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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 to 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>

He became a member of the Society of Jesus, and 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 June of 1783 he attended a meeting of the clergy of Maryland at Whitemarsh and took an active part in its deliberations. He was stationed at St. Thomas's Manor among his relatives till 1793. He then went to [[Philadelphia]] and tended to victims of a yellow-fever epidemic, even though his own health was in a delicate state. He was vigilant in his attentions to the sick and dying, and on the reappearance of yellow-fever in 1797 and 1798 he resumed his former exertions until he was stricken by the disease. While he was in Philadelphia he was appointed vicar-general for the northern states.

In June of 1783 he attended a meeting of the clergy of Maryland at Whitemarsh and took an active part in its deliberations. He was stationed at St. Thomas's Manor among his relatives till 1793. He then went to [[Philadelphia]] and tended to victims of a yellow-fever epidemic, even though his own health was in a delicate state. He was vigilant in his attentions to the sick and dying, and on the reappearance of yellow-fever in 1797 and 1798 he resumed his former exertions until he was stricken by the disease. While he was in Philadelphia he was appointed vicar-general for the northern states.