The Biographical Dictionary of America/Alemany, Joseph Sadoc

ALEMANY, Joseph Sadoc, R. C. archbishop, was born at Vich, Catalonia, Spain, July 13, 1814. In 1821 he entered the Dominican order and pursued his theological studies at the convents of Trumpt and Garona. After his ordination at Viterbo in Italy, 1837, he was master of novices, which office he filled until he was appointed assistant pastor of the church of Minerva in Rome; here he remained until 1841, when he joined the American mission. The first years of his missionary work were spent in Nashville and Memphis, Tenn. In 1847 he was made provincial of the order of Dominicans in the state of Ohio. In 1850 his abilities attracted the attention of the papal court during his presence at the general chapter of the order, and he was consecrated bishop of Monterey by Cardinal Franzoni in the church of San Carlo. Leaving Rome immediately, he brought to his new see religious of both sexes, with whose aid he founded various institutions of learning in California. In 1853 he was elevated to the see of San Francisco as its first archbishop. In 1883 he resigned his office and retired to a convent in Valencia, Spain, intending to devote the remainder of his life to the rehabilitation of the Dominican order in Spain, and died there April 14, 1888. He wrote a "Life of St. Dominick."