John McCloskey named first cardinal in the United States

Background. John McCloskey served as the first American-born archbishop of New York from 1864 until his death in 1885. Before his elevation, he had served as the Bishop of Albany from 1847 to 1864. His appointment as cardinal in 1875 was a historic first for the United States, signaling the increasing influence of the American Catholic Church.

Elevation to Cardinal. Pope Pius IX created McCloskey a cardinal-priest in the consistory of March 15, 1875, assigning him the titular church of Santa Maria sopra Minerva in Rome. This event made him the first American cardinal. The news was well received by both Catholics and non-Catholics, viewed as a sign of the growing prestige of the United States.

Legacy. McCloskey's elevation established a precedent for the American hierarchy. Since 1911, every archbishop of New York has been elevated to the College of Cardinals, although such elevation is often deferred for a number of years. During his tenure, McCloskey also established 88 new parishes, including the first parish for African-Americans along with new parishes for the Polish and Italian communities.