IRELAND, JOHN (1838-1918), American Roman Catholic prelate, was born at Burnchurch, County Kilkenny, Ireland, on Sept. I1, 1838. In 1849 he was taken to the United States by his parents, who settled at St. Paul, Minnesota Territory. After being educated in France for the priesthood, he returned to the United States in 1861; he was ordained at St. Paul and in the following year he accompanied the 5th Minnesota Volunteer In fantry south as chaplain. Subsequently he became rector of the cathedral at St. Paul. His appointment in 1875 as bishop of Nebraska was changed at the urgent request of Bishop Grace so that he might remain at St. Paul as bishop-coadjutor with the right of succession; at the same time he was made titular bishop of Maronea.
His liberal views gave him a wide influence and reputation both within and without the church, and he came to be looked upon as a leader of the "American" as distinguished from the "Roman" party in the clergy. Several of his administrative acts, notably his plan for the partial taking over of control of the parochial schools by the local authorities, were strenuously attacked. He was prominently identified with the planting of Catholic com munities or colonies in the North-west, with the establishment of the Catholic university at Washington, and with the Catholic total abstinence movement. He published The Church and Modern Society (1896). He died at St. Paul on Sept. 25, 1918.