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'''Leonard Neale''' (October 15, 1746 — June 18, 1817) became, in 1800,  the first bishop ordained in the US where he devoted almost all his time on the [[Visitation Sisters]].  

'''Leonard Neale''' (October 15, 1746 — June 18, 1817) became, in 1800,  the first bishop ordained in the US where he devoted almost all his time on the [[Visitation Sisters]].  

Leonard Neale was born in Tobacco Port, Maryland on October 15, 1746 the fifth son<ref>[http://www.ignatianimprints.org/winter07/time.shtml ''Family of Faith: Maryland's Neale family played a major role in early work of the Jesuits'', John LaMartina, SJ.]</ref>of William and Anne (Brooke) Neale. He was educated in the College of St. Omer, France, and later at Bruges and Liege, Belgium.<ref>[http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/10728d.htm Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume X, Robert Appleton Company, 1911]</ref>

Leonard Neale was born in Tobacco Port, Maryland on October 15, 1746 the fifth son<ref>[http://www.ignatianimprints.org/winter07/time.shtml ''Family of Faith: Maryland's Neale family played a major role in early work of the Jesuits'', John LaMartina, SJ.]</ref> of William and Anne (Brooke) Neale. He was educated in the College of St. Omer, France, and later at Bruges and Liege, Belgium.<ref>[http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/10728d.htm Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume X, Robert Appleton Company, 1911]</ref>

At Ghent, he became a member of the Society of Jesus in 1767.<ref>''Family of Faith: Maryland's Neale family played a major role in early work of the Jesuits'', John LaMartina, SJ.</ref> After his ordination on June 5, 1777 he taught in colleges and officiated as pastor in different places in Europe. Father Neale was teaching in the Jesuit college of Bruges when that institution was seized by the Austro-Belgian government, and along with the other Jesuits was expelled. He moved to England, where he had charge of a small congregation, but after several years he sailed in 1779 for Demerara, where he worked among the natives and settlers. His health is said to have been almost ruined by the inclemency of the climate and the severity of his labors. He left Demerara in January of 1783, and after a dangerous voyage, in which he fell into the hands of British cruisers, he reached the United States in April 1783.

At Ghent, he became a member of the Society of Jesus in 1767.<ref>''Family of Faith: Maryland's Neale family played a major role in early work of the Jesuits'', John LaMartina, SJ.</ref> After his ordination on June 5, 1777 he taught in colleges and officiated as pastor in different places in Europe. Father Neale was teaching in the Jesuit college of Bruges when that institution was seized by the Austro-Belgian government, and along with the other Jesuits was expelled. He moved to England, where he had charge of a small congregation, but after several years he sailed in 1779 for Demerara, where he worked among the natives and settlers. His health is said to have been almost ruined by the inclemency of the climate and the severity of his labors. He left Demerara in January of 1783, and after a dangerous voyage, in which he fell into the hands of British cruisers, he reached the United States in April 1783.

In 1799, the archbishop founded the Georgetown Visitation Preparatory School, under the direction of the Sisters of the Visitation. Both the school and the convent are still active more than 200 years later in the heart of Washington, DC.

In 1799, the archbishop founded the Georgetown Visitation Preparatory School, under the direction of the Sisters of the Visitation. Both the school and the convent are still active more than 200 years later in the heart of Washington, DC.

A story that has come down through the years is that in the early morning hours of December 14, 1799 Father Neale was called to Mount Vernon from St. Mary’s Mission across the Piscataway River to give former President George Washington his last rites.<ref>''The National Catholic Register'', February 24, 1957</ref> Although Washington was an Episcopalian but was suppose to have had a death bed conversion to that faith being baptized by Father Neale. Although some people argue against this story, because it is not mentioned in most of the Washington biographies, there is some further evidence to support such a possibility. In the inventory of Washington's effects there is included a picture of the Blessed Virgin Mary and one of St. John.<ref>[http://www.hti.umich.edu/cgi/t/text/pageviewer-idx?c=moa;cc=moa;rgn=full text;idno=abt5709.0001.001;didno=ABT5709.0001.001;view=image;seq=291;page=root;size=s;frm=frameset Washington's Inventory]</ref> <ref>''The National Catholic Register'', May 11, 1952</ref>  

A story that has come down through the years is that in the early morning hours of December 14, 1799 Father Neale was called to Mount Vernon from St. Mary’s Mission across the Piscataway River to give former President George Washington his last rites.<ref>''The National Catholic Register'', February 24, 1957</ref> Although Washington was an Episcopalian but was suppose to have had a death bed conversion to that faith being baptized by Father Neale. Although some people argue against this story, because it is not mentioned in most of the Washington biographies, there is some further evidence to support such a possibility. In the inventory of Washington's effects there is included a picture of the Blessed Virgin Mary and one of St. John.<ref>[http://www.hti.umich.edu/cgi/t/text/pageviewer-idx?c=moa;cc=moa;rgn=full text;idno=abt5709.0001.001;didno=ABT5709.0001.001;view=image;seq=291;page=root;size=s;frm=frameset Washington's Inventory]</ref><ref>''The National Catholic Register'', May 11, 1952</ref>  

In 1809, his brother, [[Francis Neale]], became president of [[Georgetown University|Georgetown College]].

In 1809, his brother, [[Francis Neale]], became president of [[Georgetown University|Georgetown College]].

== References ==

== References ==

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[[Category:Catholic Leaders]]

[[Category:Catholic Leaders]]