Hughes, John (Joseph) (1797–1864)

Irish-born US prelate who founded St John's (now Fordham) College in 1841, set up an ambitious parochial school system, helped found the American College in Rome, and began construction of St Patrick's Cathedral in 1858. In 1861 he went on a mission to France seeking friendship for the North in the US Civil War. He is now recognized as having played a crucial role in both securing Catholics' rights in the USA and in helping Catholics become integrated into US society.

Born in County Tyrone, he emigrated to the USA in 1817 and was ordained in 1826. He did pastoral work in Philadelphia, and after becoming coadjutor bishop of New York in 1838, succeeded four years later to the see, which was made an archdiocese in 1850.