Presidents of the College of the Holy Cross
Rev. John Early, S.J.
Third President of Holy Cross
1848 - 1851
John Early was born in Ireland on July 1, 1814. Desiring to be a priest and with no room at Maynooth Seminary he came to the United States in 1833 and entered Mount St. Mary's College, Emmitsburg, MD. He transferred to Georgetown College in February, 1834. After philosophical and theological studies at Georgetown he was ordained a priest on July 1, 1845.
During his life as a Jesuit he served as President of Holy Cross from 1848 to 1851; was founder and first President of Loyola College, Baltimore, from 1853 to 1858 and again from 1866 to 1870; twice President of Georgetown College, 1858 to 1865 and from 1870 until his sudden death in 1873. He died at Georgetown on May 23, 1873.