Michael Joseph Curley

Michael Joseph Curley (October 12, 1879 – May 16, 1947) was an Irish-born Catholic prelate who served as the first Archbishop of Washington (1939–1947). He previously served as Archbishop of Baltimore (1921–1947) and as Bishop of St. Augustine (1914–1921).

Curley is known for his militancy in protecting the rights of Catholics and of his dioceses against perceived and real attacks from outside forces. As Bishop of Saint Augustine, he fought anti-Catholic efforts by the State of Florida and the Jesuits to claim what he felt was his rightful authority.

As Archbishop of Baltimore and later Washington, he denounced the oppression of Catholic clergy in Mexico and Spain and of Jews in Germany. Curley is also known for his strong program of school construction in the Archdiocese of Baltimore. Provided by Wikipedia