Father Joseph Patrick Slattery, C.M. (21 May 1866 – 31 March 1931) physicist, radiologist, Catholic priest, pioneer in the field of radiography in Australia and credited with the first use of fluoroscopy in Australia. In 1866, born in Waterford, Ireland. Traveled to Australia as a deacon in 1888. Ordained as a priest by Cardinal Moran. As a member of the Vincentian Congregation, he and several of his confreres took over the running of St Stanislaus' at Bathurst from the diocesan clergy. Appointed to the position of professor and taught science, including physics and chemistry. Slattery had a keen interest in the new technology of wireless radio and was the first to install a wireless set west of the Blue Mountains. He was an early pioneer of radio in Australia and found delight in building radio sets. Slattery built an X-ray practice at Bathurst and local doctors benefited greatly from this convenience. He performed mission work for the Vincentian fathers and toured Australia and New Zealand to serve the faithful. Slattery was superior of the Vincentian novitiate at Eastwood. He was appointed vice-rector of St. John’s College at the University of Sydney. At Springwood and Manly, he was spiritual director of the seminaries for 6 years. Slattery performed parish work for the last 3 years of his life. In 1931 he died and was buried in Rookwood Cemetery at Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
Joseph Patrick Slattery was born in 1866 at Waterford, Ireland, the son of John and Hanna Slattery, née Walsh. He attended Christian Brothers' College at Waterford, and then St. Vincent's College at Castleknock, Dublin from 1877 to 1886. At St. Vincent’s he fell under the tutelage of Father R. Bodkin. Father Bodkin had an excellent science laboratory that included a Callan battery from noted Irish priest, scientist and inventor Father Nicholas Callan. In 1886, Slattery achieved honors in experimental physics from his university examinations. On 7 September 1886, he entered the Vincentian seminary at Blackrock in Dublin, Ireland.