James A. Ryder, Date of Birth, Place of Birth, Date of Death

    

James A. Ryder

19th-century American Jesuit

Date of Birth: 08-Oct-1800

Place of Birth: Dublin, Leinster, Ireland

Date of Death: 12-Jan-1860

Profession: teacher, Catholic priest, academic administrator

Nationality: United States

Zodiac Sign: Libra


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About James A. Ryder

  • James A.
  • Ryder (October 8, 1800 – January 12, 1860) was an American Catholic priest and Jesuit who became president of several Jesuit universities in the United States.
  • Born in Ireland, he immigrated with his widowed mother to the United States as a child, and settled in Georgetown in Washington, D.C.
  • He enrolled at Georgetown College (later known as Georgetown University) and, after several years, entered the Society of Jesus.
  • Studying in Maryland and Rome, he proved to be a talented student of theology, and was made a professor.
  • He returned to Georgetown College in 1829, where he was appointed to senior positions and founded the Philodemic Society, becoming its first president. In 1840, Ryder became the president of Georgetown College, and oversaw the construction of the university's Astronomical Observatory, as well as the formal incorporation by Congress.
  • He garnered a reputation as a skilled orator and preacher.
  • His term ended in 1843, with his appointment as provincial superior of the Maryland province of the Society of Jesus.
  • As provincial, he laid the groundwork for the transfer of ownership of the newly established College of the Holy Cross from the Diocese of Boston to the Society of Jesus.
  • Two years later, he became the second president of the College of the Holy Cross, where he oversaw construction of a new wing.
  • He returned to Georgetown in 1848 for a second term as president, during which time he accepted a group of local physicians to form the Georgetown College School of Medicine, constructed a new home for Holy Trinity Church, and quelled a student rebellion. In his later years, Ryder went to Philadelphia, where he assisted with the founding of Saint Joseph's College and became its second president in 1856.
  • He became the pastor of St.
  • John the Evangelist Church in Philadelphia, and then transferred to St.
  • John the Evangelist Church in Frederick, Maryland as pastor.
  • Finally, he returned to Philadelphia, where he died in 1860.

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