Michael Joseph Curley

Michael Joseph Curley (October 12, 1879 – May 16, 1947) was an Irish-born prelate of the Roman Catholic Church who served as the first archbishop of the Archdiocese of Washington (1939–1947). He served as the tenth archbishop of the Archdiocese of Baltimore in Maryland (1921–1947) and as bishop of the Diocese of St. Augustine in Florida (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 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