O'CONNOR, Denis, Archbishop of Toronto, was born on a farm in Lot 1, Concession 3 of Pickering Township, Ontario, on February 26, 1841, the eldest of three children born to Denis O'Connor and Mary O'Leary, pioneer Irish immigrants. He died at Toronto, Ontario, on June 30, 1911.
Archbishop Denis O'Connor began his education in a rural school. When St. Michael's College was opened at Toronto in 1852, Denis O'Connor was the eleventh pupil and the second boarder registered. He followed the classical and philosophical courses until 1859 when he entered St. Basil's Novitiate, Toronto. After profession on June 24, 1860, he continued his studies at St. Michael's College until 1861 when he went to France where he spent one year at the College de Feyzin and another at the College d'Annonay. In both institutions his piety and judgment attracted attention. There was great disappointment when he contracted tuberculosis. By the time he returned to Toronto in September 1863 the disease was well advanced. He was ordained priest on December 8, 1863, and then went on sick leave.
His mother had died young and his father had married Bridget Callaghan who bore him ten children. His stepmother nursed the young priest back to health and in September 1864 he returned to St. Michael's College, strong enough to attend to light office work and to fill in for absent teachers. Three years later his health failed a second time and he spent the greater part of 1867 on sick leave. In 1868 he was acting superior of St. Michael's College for several months. Two years later he was appointed superior of Assumption College in Windsor, Ontario. He went there on July 28,1870. As a Second Founder he was so successful that Pope Leo XIII conferred an honorary Doctor of Divinity upon him on September 20, 1888, the year of his silver jubilee as a priest. Other honors and high office were to follow. He was consecrated Bishop of London on October 18, 1890. Nine years later, on January 27, 1899, he
