Martin John Spalding, seventh archbishop of Baltimore, was born near
Lebanon, Kentucky, May 23, 1810. His forebears were Maryland Catholics
who had emigrated to Kentucky. He was graduated from St. Mary's
College when but sixteen years of age. Spalding then spent four years
at St. Joseph's College, Bardstown, Kentucky, and the same number of
years in Rome, at the conclusion of which he is said to have made a
seven hours' defense in Latin of 256 theological propositions. This
exhibition won him a doctor's diploma, and his ordination as a priest.
From 1834 to 1843 Dr. Spalding was president of St. Joseph's College
in Bardstown. And from 1843 to 1848 he was in charge of the cathedral
at Louisville. In 1848 he was consecrated Bishop of Lengone; and two
years later Bishop of Louisville. Bishop Spalding served in this
capacity until 1864 when, in the presence of four thousand people, he
was installed as the seventh archbishop of Baltimore. This high office
he held until his death, which occurred at Baltimore, February 7,
1872. Bishop Spalding was the greatest Roman Catholic reviewer and
historian Kentucky has produced. He was one of the editors of the
_Catholic Magazine_, and the author of the excellent _Sketches of the
Early Catholic Missions in Kentucky_ (Louisville, 1846); _The Life,
Times, and Character of the Rt. Rev. B. J. Flaget_ (Louisville, 1852).
He also published _Lectures on the General Evidences of Christianity_
(1844); _Review of D'Aubigne's History of the Reformation_ (Baltimore,
1847); _History of the Protestant Reformation_ (1860); and a
posthumous volume, _Miscellanea_ (1885). There is also a uniform five
volume edition of his works, which is fortunate, as his books,
especially the _Sketches_, and _Flaget_, are exceedingly scarce.
BIBLIOGRAPHY. _Life of Archbishop Spalding_, by his nephew, John
L. Spalding (New York, 1872); Adams's _Dictionary of American
Authors_ (Boston, 1905).