Background
Quinn was born at Rathbane, County Kildare, Ireland, son of Matthew Quinn, a farmer, and his wife Mary née Doyle.
Quinn was born at Rathbane, County Kildare, Ireland, son of Matthew Quinn, a farmer, and his wife Mary née Doyle.
James was educated in Ireland and at the Jesuits" College at Rome.
Quinn was ordained priest in 1843, and was engaged in educational work in Dublin. In June 1859, when the Diocese of Brisbane was created, he was appointed the first bishop, but did not arrive in Queensland until 1861. In 1875 he added an "O" to his surname.
He tried to obtain government support for Catholic schools and clashed with Mother Mary MacKillop.
He died on 30 August 1881 aged sixty-two, having done a good deal to moderate the acerbity of Irish factions feeling during his episcopate.