Article

Thomas Maguire

Published Online February 27, 2008

Last Edited March 4, 2015

 Thomas Maguire, Roman Catholic priest (b at Philadelphia, Pa 9 May 1776; d at Québec C 17 July 1854). Educated at the Séminaire de Québec, he was ordained in 1799 and was parish priest at Berthier (Berthier-sur-Mer) 1805-06 and Saint-Michel, 1806-27.
Ursuline Convent
The first Ursuline Convent was built in 1642. This retrospective view was painted by Joseph Légaré (courtesy Ursuline Convent).

Maguire, Thomas

 Thomas Maguire, Roman Catholic priest (b at Philadelphia, Pa 9 May 1776; d at Québec C 17 July 1854). Educated at the Séminaire de Québec, he was ordained in 1799 and was parish priest at Berthier (Berthier-sur-Mer) 1805-06 and Saint-Michel, 1806-27. Dedicated to education as a means of raising clerical prestige, he was director of the Collège de Saint-Hyacinthe 1827-31. As chaplain at the Ursuline convent, Québec 1832-54, he updated the curriculum and teaching practices in its boarding school for girls. A remarkable administrator, he saved both the college and convent from impending financial ruin. He was emissary from the Canadian bishops to Rome (1828-29, 1833-35) during their struggle against the Sulpicians to establish the episcopal authority of Jean-Jacques LARTIGUE. Maguire was an impassioned polemicist against attacks on the church by British Protestants and Canadian liberal professional men. From 1835 until his death he was vicar general of the bishop of Québec.