Michael Joseph Curley (October 12, 1879 – May 16, 1947) was an Irish-born prelate of the Roman Catholic Church who served as the first archbishop of the Archdiocese of Washington (1939–1947). He served as the tenth archbishop of the Archdiocese of Baltimore in Maryland (1921–1947) and as bishop of the Diocese of St. Augustine in Florida (1914–1921). Biography Early life and education One of eleven children, Michael Curley was born on October 12, 1879, in Athlone, County Westmeath, Ireland to Michael and Maria (née Ward) Curley. He attended primary school in Athlone that was run by the Marist Brothers. At age 16, Curley entered Mungret College in Limerick, Ireland. While at Mungret, Curley wanted to eventually become a missionary to the Fiji Islands. However, after speaking with Bishop John Moore during a school visit, Curley decided instead to go to the Diocese of St. Augustine in the United States after his finished his education. After graduating from Mungret, Curley entered the Royal University of Ireland, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1900. He then travelled to Rome to study at the Urban College of the Propaganda, receiving a Licentiate of Sacred Theology in 1903. Priesthood On March 19, 1904, Curley was ordained to the priesthood for the Diocese of St. Augustine by Cardinal Pietro Respighi in the Basilica of St. John Lateran in Rome. He arrived in Florida in 1904, and was named pastor of St. Peter's Parish in DeLand, Florida. He lived in a rented room above a store and ate in a local diner In 1914, Curley was appointed chancellor of the diocese and secretary to Bishop William John Kenny. Bishop of St. Augustine On April 3, 1914, Curley was appointed the fourth bishop of the Diocese of St. Augustine by Pope Pius X. He received his episcopal consecration on June 30, 1914, from Bishop Benjamin Keiley, with Bishops Patrick Donahue and Owen Corrigan serving as co-consecrators. At age 34, Curley was the youngest bishop in the country. He spent eight months out of every year on journeys throughout the diocese. In 1913, the Florida Legislature had passed legislation prohibiting white women from teaching African-American children, a measure aimed at non-segregated Catholic schools. Considering the law unconstitutional, then Bishop William John Kenny had told his teaching nuns to ignore it. In 1916, Florida Governor Park Trammell ordered the arrest of three Sisters of St. Joseph for violating