GIBBONS, JAMES (1834— ). An American Roman Catholic prelate and cardinal. He was born in Baltimore July 23, 1834, and re ceived his early education in Ireland, the former home of his family, to which he was taken in infancy. Returning to Maryland at the age of seventeen, he pursued his studies for the priest hood at Saint Charles's College and Saint Mary's Seminary. He was ordained in 1861, and after a few months of service at Saint Patrick's, Balti more, was placed in charge of Saint Bridget's Church, Canton, just' outside the city. Arch bishop Spaulding soon discerned his gifts, and brought him to the cathedral as secretary, and soon as chancellor. In 1868 he was made Vicar Apostolic of North Carolina, and to fulfill the duties of the office he was consecrated bishop. His successful administration of this difficult work earned him promotion in 1872 to the See of Richmond, Va., and his five years there were also marked by notable development of the Church's activity in many directions. In 1877 he was appointed coadjutor with right of suc cession to Archbishop Bailey of Baltimore, then in failing health, and later in the same year succeeded to the dignity of Primate of the United States, which is annexed to the See of Baltimore as the earliest in foundation. In right of this
office he presided over the important deliberations of the Third Plenary Council of Baltimore in 1884, whose successful issue was largely due to him. In recognition of all these services, as well as of the growing importance of the American branch of the Church, he was created a cardinal by Leo XIII. in 1886; but his elevation made no difference in the simple, unostentatious kindliness which had long endeared him to all who know him, without as well as within his own com munion. Because of his advanced age, at his own request, Bishop Curtis, formerly of Wilmington, Del., was appointed to assist him in 1896. His work is The Faith of Our Fathers (1871), an admirable popular exposition of the Roman Catholic doctrines; others are Our Christian Heritage (1889) and The Ambassador of Christ (1896).