William F. Gannon
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
William F. Gannon | |
|---|---|
 Gannon c. 1903 | |
| 12th President of Boston College | |
| In office 1903–1907 | |
| Preceded by | W. G. Read Mullan |
| Succeeded by | Thomas I. Gasson |
| Personal details | |
| Born | March 31, 1859 Cambridge, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Died | October 30, 1916 (aged 57) Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Alma mater | Woodstock College |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | June 1891 |
William F. Gannon SJ (March 31, 1859 – October 30, 1916) was an American Catholic priest and Jesuit who was the president of Boston College from 1903 to 1907. Born in Cambridge, Massachusetts, he entered the Society of Jesus in 1876 and studied at Woodstock College. He then taught at Jesuit schools, including the College of the Holy Cross, Saint Peter's College, Fordham University, and Georgetown University, before becoming president of Boston College. After his presidency, he engaged in pastoral work in New York City and Philadelphia.
Gannon was born on March 31, 1859, in Cambridge, Massachusetts. He studied at Boston College High School and entered the Society of Jesus on August 5, 1876, proceeding to the Jesuit novitiate in Frederick, Maryland.[1] After two years as a novice and two years in his classical studies, he went to Woodstock College to study philosophy.[2]
Jesuit formation
From 1883 to 1885, Gannon taught at the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts. He then taught for two years at Saint Peter's College in Jersey City, New Jersey, and for one year at St. John's College in New York City (later renamed Fordham University).[2] The subjects Gannon taught at Holy Cross and Fordham were mathematics and French.[3] In 1888, Gannon returned to Woodstock College for his theological studies, and he was ordained a priest in June 1891.[4][3]
In 1892, Gannon returned to the College of the Holy Cross as the prefect of discipline. The following year, he went to Maison St-Joseph, the Jesuit novitiate in Sault-au-Récollet (now a neighborhood of Montreal, Canada), where he completed his tertianship.[4][5] For one year, in 1894, Gannon was the prefect of discipline at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C.[4]
From 1895 to 1896, Gannon taught French at St. Francis Xavier College in New York City (later known as Xavier High School), where he professed his fourth vow on August 15, 1896.[1][3] In 1897, he taught at Saint Peter's College in New Jersey, and was the prefect of studies for the academic year of 1898 to 1899. He then spent the next four years working on the Jesuit mission band.[4] During this time, he developed a reputation as a skilled preacher.[3]
