Background
Miles was born in Prince George"s County, Maryland, and moved to Kentucky with his parents at age 5.
Miles was born in Prince George"s County, Maryland, and moved to Kentucky with his parents at age 5.
On July 28, 1837, Miles was appointed the first Bishop of the newly erected Diocese of Nashville, Tennessee, by Pope Gregory XVI. He received his episcopal consecration on September 16, 1838 from Bishop Joseph Rosati, Certificated Master, with Bishops Simon Bruté and Guy Ignatius Chabrat, P.S.S., serving as co-consecrators. During his tenure, he dedicated a cathedral in 1848, ordained the first priest in Tennessee, and established a seminary and a hospital. He died at the age of 68.
At the time of his death, the diocese comprised 12,000 Catholics, 13 priests, 14 churches, 6 chapels, and 13 missions.