Edward I. Devitt went to which school before May 1856?
Edward I . Devitt Edward Ignatius Devitt ( November 26 , 1840 – January 26 , 1920 ) was a Canadian American priest , Jesuit , and historian of the American Catholic Church . Born in Saint John , New Brunswick , he moved with his family to Boston , Massachusetts , at a young age . He studied in public schools in the city before enrolling at the College of the Holy Cross . Devitt spent two years there , and then entered the Society of Jesus in 1859 . He studied at the novitiate in Frederick , Maryland , and at the newly opened Woodstock College . He briefly taught at the Washington Seminary during his studies , and after graduating , was a professor for the next thirty years at Holy Cross , Woodstock , and Georgetown University . To the surprise of many Jesuits , Devitt was appointed the vice rector of Boston College in 1891 , becoming the rector and president later that year . He held the position for three years , and spent the remainder of his life teaching and working as a historian of the Catholic Church in the United States and of colonial Maryland . He died at Georgetown University in 1920 . Early life . Edward Ignatius Devitt was born on November 26 , 1840 , in Saint John , New Brunswick , in modern-day Canada . His parents were Irish Catholics , and Devitt was baptized two days after his birth . While a young boy , he moved with his family to the United States , where they settled in the North End of Boston , Massachusetts . Devitts father became active in the North End parish of St . Marys , which was run by the Jesuits , under the pastorship of John McElroy . In this way , Devitt became exposed to religious life , particularly to the Jesuits . As there were no Catholic schools in Boston at the time , Devitt was enrolled in public school , graduating from the Boston English School in 1857 . He then continued his education at the College of the Holy Cross . He completed two years there before meeting Burchard Villiger , the provincial superior of the Jesuit Maryland Province , and applying for membership in the order . His application was accepted , and Devitt entered the Society of Jesus on July 28 , 1859 , proceeding to the novitiate in Frederick , Maryland . While at the novitiate , the American Civil War broke out , and the school was several times commandeered by the armies as a makeshift hospital , the novices and juniors being ordered to tend to the wounded . Teaching and higher education . In 1863 , Devitt moved to Washington , D.C. , where he became a professor of the classics and mathematics at Washington Seminary ( which later became Gonzaga College High School ) . He was a professor at the school at the time Abraham Lincoln was assassinated , and he marched with the Gonzaga students in the deceased presidents funeral procession . Devitt left Gonzaga in 1869 to complete his studies in philosophy and theology at Woodstock College in Maryland , where he was a member of the first class . He remained at Woodstock for seven years . He was ordained a priest by Archbishop James Roosevelt Bayley on Laetare Sunday in 1875 . From 1877 to 1879 , he served as prefect of studies at the College of the Holy Cross . On August 15 , 1880 , he professed his fourth vow . Academic career . For the next thirty years , Devitt taught philosophy at the College of the Holy Cross , Woodstock College , and Georgetown University . In teaching at Woodstock , he became the first alumnus of the college to be appointed to the faculty , and eventually became the chair of dogmatic theology . He believed that teaching was the preeminent mission of the Society of Jesus . Over the course of his career , he taught such subjects as the classics , mathematics , modern languages , philosophy , and science . President of Boston College . While Devitt was a professor of philosophy at the College of the Holy Cross , the Jesuit provincial superior , Thomas J . Campbell , paid his annual visit to the college . On January 6 , 1891 , during his visit , he appointed Devitt as vice rector of Boston College , where he would assume management of the school due to the rector , Robert J . Fultons , worsening illness . The Jesuits in both Worcester and Boston were surprised by his appointment . Eventually , on September 3 , 1891 , Devitts status was changed to rector and president of Boston College by the Jesuit Superior General , Anton Anderledy . During his term , the holdings of the college library were increased by 25% , and the science department was expanded . Boston Colleges literary magazine , The Stylus , resumed publication in 1893 , having been inactive since 1889 . Devitts tenure as president came to an end on July 16 , 1894 , and he was succeeded by Timothy Brosnahan . In 1902 , Devitt was selected to represent the Maryland-New York Province at the Jesuits General Congregation of procurators in Rome in 1902 . Historian . Devitt also developed a reputation as an authoritative historian of the Catholic Church in the United States and of colonial Maryland . Though his historical interests began as a hobby , Devitt eventually became an editor of the Woodstock Letters , a journal published by the American Jesuits . He became a member of the Columbia Historical Society , the Maryland Historical Society , and the American Catholic Historical Society , the latter of which he was especially active in . While at Georgetown University , toward the end of his life , he received for the universitys library one of the most comprehensive collections of books on the history of Maryland . Despite his reputation as an adept historian , his skills in writing were considered lackluster by many of his colleagues . He also served as the curator of Georgetowns historical archives . Devitt died on January 26 , 1920 , at Georgetown University , and was buried in the Jesuit Community Cemetery . His largest project , a history of the Maryland-New York Province of the Society of Jesus , remained unfinished at the time of his death . For his historical work , Devitt received the posthumous praise of Bishop Thomas Shahan , the rector of the Catholic University of America and a historian .