William was the son of William Matthews & Mary Neale. He received his early education at English College in Liege Belgium. William's philosophical notes from studies there are preserved at Georgetown College Library Archives. In the 1790's, he returned to MD & studied theology at Georgetown University & St Mary Seminary in Baltimore. In 1796, William was professor of rhetoric at Georgetown. He received minor orders 23 December 1798. William became subdeacon on 22 August 1799 & deacon on 26 March 1800. On 29 March 1800, he was the fifth priest & first American-born priest ordained in the United States by Bishop Carroll. William served as pastor of St Patrick Church in Washington DC in 1804, vice president of Georgetown University in 1806, & was elected president of Georgetown 28 February 1809. He resigned 1 November 1809. William served in administrative posts in Philadelphia & Washington DC & served as president of Gonzaga College before his death.
William was the son of William Matthews & Mary Neale. He received his early education at English College in Liege Belgium. William's philosophical notes from studies there are preserved at Georgetown College Library Archives. In the 1790's, he returned to MD & studied theology at Georgetown University & St Mary Seminary in Baltimore. In 1796, William was professor of rhetoric at Georgetown. He received minor orders 23 December 1798. William became subdeacon on 22 August 1799 & deacon on 26 March 1800. On 29 March 1800, he was the fifth priest & first American-born priest ordained in the United States by Bishop Carroll. William served as pastor of St Patrick Church in Washington DC in 1804, vice president of Georgetown University in 1806, & was elected president of Georgetown 28 February 1809. He resigned 1 November 1809. William served in administrative posts in Philadelphia & Washington DC & served as president of Gonzaga College before his death.
Inscription
REV. WILLIAM MATTHEWS
FIRST AMERICAN-BORN PRIEST
ORDAINED IN U.S. -1800
PASTOR, ST. PATRICKS CHURCH
WASHINGTON, D.C. 1804-1854
PRESIDENT,
GEORGETOWN COLLEDE -1809
CO-FOUNDER, LATER PRESIDENT
1821-1834 D.C. PUBLIC LIBRARY
CO- DIRECTOR, LATER TRUSTEE
1813-1844 D.C. PUBLIC SCHOOLS
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