Background
John Murphy Farley was born on April 20, 1842, at Newton-Hamilton, County Armagh, Ireland to Philip and Catherine (née Murphy) Farley.
John Murphy Farley was born on April 20, 1842, at Newton-Hamilton, County Armagh, Ireland to Philip and Catherine (née Murphy) Farley.
Farley was educated in Ireland, and at St. John's College (later Fordham University), New York City; St. Joseph's Seminary, Troy, N. Y. ; and the North American College, Rome, Italy.
Ordained priest at Rome in 1870, Farley labored in the archdiocese of New York as assistant pastor, secretary to Cardinal McCloskey, and pastor.
In 1891 he was appointed vicar-general, and in 1895 auxiliary bishop of New York. In 1902 he succeeded Archbishop Corrigan, and in 1911 he was created cardinal. As archbishop he settled disputes among the clergy, and celebrated the centenary of the diocese of New York.
