First published in 1918, this biography of John Cardinal McCloskey was written by his secretary, JOHN CARDINAL FARLEY (1842-1918). McCloskey, elevated in 1875, was the first American cardinal, given control over the diocese of New York and overseeing the Reconstruction era and the influx of new immigrants to New York City. During his lifetime, the Catholic Church in the United States saw an unprecedented expansion of followers and influence. Anyone interested in the rise of Catholic influence and the life of America's first cardinal will find this an interesting and in-depth read.