James Gibbons

James Gibbons (July 23, 1834 – March 24, 1921) was an American Catholic prelate who served as apostolic vicar of North Carolina from 1868 to 1872, the bishop of Richmond from 1872 to 1877, and as archbishop of Baltimore from 1877 until his death. Gibbons was consecrated a bishop on August 16, 1868, at the Baltimore Cathedral. The principal consecrator was Archbishop Martin J. Spalding. He was 34 years of age, serving as the first apostolic vicar of North Carolina. He attended the First Vatican Council in Rome where he voted in favor of defining the dogma of papal infallibility. In 1872, Gibbons was named bishop of Richmond by Pope Pius IX. In 1877, Gibbons was appointed archbishop of Baltimore, the oldest episcopal see in the United States. During his 44 years as Baltimore's archbishop, Gibbons became one of the most recognizable Catholic figures in the country. He defended the rights of organized labor and helped convince Pope Leo XIII to give his consent to labor unions. In 1886, Gibbons was appointed to the College of Cardinals, becoming the second cardinal in American history.