Charles Edward McDonnell

Charles Edward McDonnell (February 1, 1854 – August 8, 1921) was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Brooklyn from 1892 until his death in 1921.

Charles McDonnell was born in Manhattan to Charles and Eleanor (née Preston) McDonnell. After attending De La Salle Institute, he entered St. Francis Xavier College in 1868. He was sent to Rome by Cardinal John McCloskey in 1872 to further his studies at the Pontifical North American College. While in Rome, he was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Silas Chatard on May 19, 1878. He earned his Doctor of Divinity degree shortly afterwards. Following his return to New York in the fall of 1878, he was named a curate at St. Mary's Church on Grand Street until 1879, when he was transferred to St. Stephen's Church (under Rev. Edward McGlynn) and afterwards St. Patrick's Cathedral. He became private secretary to Cardinal McCloskey in 1884, and remained in that position under McCloskey's successor, Michael Corrigan, who also named him chancellor of the Archdiocese of New York in 1889. In 1890 he was made Private Chamberlain by Pope Leo XIII and spiritual director of the Catholic Club.