Henry P. Northrop

Henry Northrop was born on May 5, 1842, in Charleston, South Carolina, to Claudian Byrd and Hannah Eliza (née Anderson) Northrop.[1] He received his early education at Georgetown College in Washington, D.C. from 1853 to 1856.[2] He then studied at Mount St. Mary's College in Emmitsburg, Maryland, graduating in 1860.[2] He attended the theological seminary at St. Mary's for four years before continuing his studies at the Pontifical North American College in Rome.[1]

Northrop was ordained to the priesthood in Rome by Patriarch Pietro de Villanova Castellacci for the Diocese of Charleston on June 25, 1865.[3] Following his return to the United States, he served as a curate at the Nativity Parish in New York City. In 1866, he returned to Charleston and became a curate at St. Joseph's Parish.[1] Northrop served as a missionary in New Bern, North Carolina (1868-1872), assistant rector of St. John's Cathedral in Charleston and pastor of the parish in Sullivan's Island, South Carolina (1872-1877), and pastor of St. Patrick's Parish in Charleston (1877-1882).[2]

On September 16, 1881, Northrop was appointed the second vicar apostolic of North Carolina and titular bishop of Rosalia by Pope Leo XIII.[3] He received his episcopal consecration on January 8, 1882, at the Baltimore Cathedral from Cardinal James Gibbons, with Bishops John Keane and Thomas Becker serving as co-consecrators.[3]

In addition to his duties as vicar apostolic, Northrup was named the fourth bishop of the Diocese of Charleston on January 27, 1883 by Leo XIII.[3] Northrup resigned his post as vicar apostolic on February 4, 1888, while remaining bishop of Charleston.[3] Henry Northrop died in Charleston on June 7, 1916, at the age of 74.