FARLEY, John Murphy, American Roman Catholic prelate: b. Newton-Hamilton, County. of Armagh, Ireland, 20 April 1842; d. Mamaro neck, N. Y., 17 Sept. 1918. He began his classical studies in Saint MacCarten's College, Ireland, and completed his course in Saint John's College, Fordham. He continued his studies for the priesthood in Saint Joseph's Seminary, Troy, N. Y., and in the North Ameri can College, Rome. He was ordained in Rome, 11 June 1870, and the same year returned to the United States to begin work in Saint Peter's parish, New Brighton, Staten Island. In 1872 Archbishop McCloskey of New York chose'him for private secretary. In 1884 Pope Leo XIII made him private chamberlain with the title monsignor, and Cardinal McCloskey appointed him permanent rector of the church of Saint Gabriel, New York, where he remained until he was made archbishop. In 1891 he was made vicar-general of the archdiocese of New York. In 1892 he was made domestic prelate to Leo XIII, and in 1895 prothonotary apostolic, all of which positions gave him special privileges. In December 1895 he was consecrated titular bishop of Zeugma, and became assistant to the archbishop of New York. When the see of New York became vacant by the death of Archbishop Corrigan (1902), the lists of names sent to Rome by the suffragan bishops and per manent rectors each had at the head the name of Bishop Farley as first choice for archbishop.
He received his appointment from Leo XIII, but the gallium was conferred under Pius X, on 15 Sept. 1902. He was the fourth arch bishop of New York arid governed one of the largest Roman Catholic dioceses in the world. He was the metropolitan of the ecclesiastical province of New York, which is composed of eight dioceses outside the archdiocese which includes also the Bahama Islands; six in the State of New York and two in New Jersey. The author of the 'Life of Cardinal McClos key,' Archbishop was also a con tributor to various magazines, and took great interest in movements for the social welfare of the city. He was created cardinal by Pope Pius X, 27 Nov. 1911. At the time of his death (1918) the archdiocese of New York comprised a Catholic population estimated at 1,350,000; 1,117 priests; 388 churches; parochial schools attended by 91,140 children; 25 orphanages; 27 hospitals, and other institutions, benevolent and educational.