CHATARD, FRANCIS SILAS MAREAN: 1834-1918.
" Francis Silas Chatard (Dec. 13, 1834-Sept. 7, 1918), Roman Catholic bishop of Indianapolis, was a grandson of Pierre Chatard. The latter., had settled in Baltimore , married the daughter of a fellow emigrant, and won local prestige by writing and practising medicine, in which he had been trained in Paris. His son, Ferdinand, had studied medicine in Paris, London, and Edinburgh, practised in Baltimore, and married Eliza Anne, daughter of Silas Marean of Brookline, Mass., who had served in the War of 1812 and as consul in Martinique, where he had married an Irish widow of an English gentleman. Francis Chatard, son of Ferdinand and Eliza Anne … expecting to follow the paternal profession, on his graduation from Mount St. Mary's, Emmitsburg, in 1853, studied medicine under Dr. Donaldson of Baltimore and in the University of Maryland where he obtained his medical degree. After serving two years as an interne in the Baltimore infirmary and as physician of the city almshouse, he heard the religious call and enrolled under Archbishop Kenrick …
"For six years Chatard pursued courses in philosophy and theology in the Urban College of the Propaganda at Rome before he was ordained (1862) and awarded the D.D. (1863). He was then named vice-rector of the American College at Rome under Dr. W. G. McCloskey, later bishop of Louisville. Succeeding to the rectorship in 1868, he headed the College for ten interesting years during which the Vatican Council of 1870 was held …
"Named by Pope Plus to the See of Vincennes, he was consecrated (1878) by Cardinal Franchi … Vincennes welcomed in him a man of polished appearance, a good linguist, an attractive conversationalist, an inspiring preacher, and a deep student of foreign politics… In 1898, on removal of his See to Indianapolis, he built a new cathedral, St. Vincent's Hospital, schools, and a convent. On his twenty-fifth anniversary, he was honored by the whole state in ceremonies in which Cardinal Gibbons, forty archbishops and bishops, and three hundred priests took part. Although seven years later Joseph Chartrand was appointed coadjutor, the aged bishop continued active … he passed away in 1918 …"
Besides the books listed Chatard was translator of several religious works.
Condensed from R. J. P., Dictionary of dmerican Biography, Vol. IV.
- Sermon. Rome, 1872.
- Christian Truths, Lectures. New
York, 1881.
- St. Thomas and Our Day. Notre Dame,
Ind., 1882.
- Discourse on the Occasion of the Entombment of Mgr. Celestin
de La Hailandiere. Indianapolis, 1882.
- Ordo Divini Officll Recitandi Sacrique Peragendi, in Usum
Cleri Diocesis Vincennopolitanal …
Indianapolis, 1884.
- Tenure of Land and Eminent Domain.
Indianapolis, 1887.
- Occasional Essays. New York,
1894.
- page: 59[View Page 59]
- Symbolism of Early Christianity from the Catacombs of
Rome. New York, 1899.
