PRESTON, Thomas Scott, American Ro man Catholic clergyman: b. Hartford, Conn., 23 July 1824; d. New York, 4 Nov. 1891. He was graduated from Washington (now Trinity) College in 1843, from the General Theological Seminary of the Protestant Episcopal Church in 1846 and held assistant rectorates in New York. In 1849 he entered the Roman Catholic Church, and after study at Saint Joseph's Seminary, Fordham, N. Y., was ordained priest in 1850. He became chancellor of the archdiocese of blew York in 1853, and in 1863 rector of Saint Ann's, New York. In 1872 he was made vicar general of the New York archdiocese, in 1:•:1 he was made monsignor and in 1::.. prothono tary apostolic. He vigorously opposed the land and labor movement of Henry George (q.v.) and was active in urging the excommunication of Dr. McGlynn (q.v). He founded and for many years directed the Sisters of the Divine Compassion. As a preacher he enjoyed consid erable popularity. Among his many contro versial and devotional works are 'The Ark of the Covenant; or, A Series of Short Discourses Upon the Joys, Sorrows, Glories and Virtues of the Ever Blessed Mother of God) (New York 1860) ; 'The Life of Saint Mary Magdalene) (New Yoirk 1860) ; 'The Life of Saint Vin cent de Paul) (New York 1866) ; 'Lectures on Christian Unity) (New York 1867) ; 'Lectures on Reason and Revelation) (New York 1868); 'Christ and the Church) (New York 1870) ; 'Vicar of Christ) (New York 1878) ; 'The Divine Paraclete> (New York 1879) ; 'The Protestant Reformation) (New York 1879) ; 'Protestantism and the Bible) (New York 1880); 'Christian Unity) (New York 1881) ; 'Protestantism and the Church) (New York 1882) ; 'God and Reason) (New York 1884) ; 'The Sacred Year) (New York 1885) ; 'The Watch on Calvary) (New York 1885) ; 'The Divine Sanctuary) (New York 1:::7) ; 'Geth semane) (New York 1887). Consult Brann,
'The Rt. Rev. Thomas S. Preston, Vicar Gen eral) (New York) ; Preston, 'Remembrances of My Brother Thomas.'