Portrait of Rev James Vincent Cleary (1829-1898), Archbishop of Kingston, Ontario, Canada.
Oil
on canvas. Late 19th century, artist unknown.
James Vincent Cleary was born in
Dungarvan on 18th September 1828. His father Thomas (1792-1871) was a
merchant and ship owner of Main Street. His mother was Margaret O'Brien
(1800-1858) who was related to the Fenian, F.X. O'Brien.
He was educated locally at a classical school in
Church Street. He studied for the priesthood in Rome and at St Patrick’s
College, Maynooth. He was ordained on 19 September 1851. He also studied at
Salamanca in Spain before returning to Ireland to become a professor in St
John’s College, Waterford, where he also served as president of the college
from 1873 to 1876. He was awarded the Doctor of Divinity degree (DD or STD), by
the Catholic University of Ireland. Rev. Cleary was appointed Parish
Priest of Dungarvan on 13th February 1876.
In 1881 he was made Bishop of
Kingston when this portrait was made. It originally hung in the convent of the
Presentation Sisters in Dungarvan. He died aged 69 on 24 February 1898 and is buried in Saint
Mary's Roman Catholic Cathedral Kingston, Frontenac County, Ontario, Canada.
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| Portrait of Rev James Vincent Cleary (1829-1898), Archbishop of Kingston, Ontario, Canada |
