Background
Dalton was born in Thurles, County Tipperary, in 1821.
Dalton was born in Thurles, County Tipperary, in 1821.
He was ordained a Catholic priest there in 1846. Dalton returned to Newfoundland that same year. When Charles Dalton was later transferred to Harbour Grace, John became parish priest in Carbonear.
In early 1856, the Diocese of Saint John"s, Newfoundland, was divided by the Holy See to form the new Diocese of Harbour Grace, and Dalton was appointed by Pope Pius IX on February 29 as its first bishop.
He was ordained a bishop on May 25 of that year by John Thomas Mullock, Order of Friars Minor the Bishop of Saint John"son He spent the rest of his administration working to establish the structures of the diocese, including commencement of the construction of a cathedral for his diocese.
He was also active in the local politics of the province. One of his first acts as bishop had been to ordain a native of Newfoundland as a priest.
Dalton died in his post in 1869.
His remains are interred under the main altar of the present cathedral, built in 1892, which is currently inactive.