Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Gould, James Alipius

1200599Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900, Volume 22 — Gould, James Alipius1890Edward Carter Kersey Gonner

GOULD, JAMES ALIPIUS (1812–1886), first Roman catholic archbishop of Melbourne, was born at Cork in 1812, entered the Augustinian order at an early age, and after passing his novitiate at Grantstown proceeded to Rome and Perugia, at which latter place he was ordained priest in 1835. He returned to Cork, and in 1838 offered his services to Archbishop Polding, vicar-apostolic of Australasia. His first station was at Campbeltown, near Sydney, but after ten years of devoted service he was consecrated on 8 Aug. 1848 first bishop of the Port Phillip Settlement, which three years later was formed into the separate colony of Victoria. Here his energy speedily displayed itself in the vigorous organisation of his diocese and the advancement of catholic interest. In the course of his labours he made himself conspicuous for the zeal with which he opposed the institution of the system of free, compulsory, and secular education, urging, though in vain, the need of endowing the catholic schools. In 1876 he received the pallium as archbishop of Melbourne. He died on 11 June 1886 at Brighton, near Melbourne.

[Rusden's Hist. of Australia; Tablet, 31 July and 7 Aug. 1886; Times, 4 Aug. 1886.]

E. C. K. G.