Henry P. Northrop

Henry Northrop was born 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, from where he graduated in 1860.[2] He attended the theological seminary for four years before continuing his studies at the Pontifical North American College in Rome.[1] He was ordained to the priesthood on June 25, 1865.[3]

Following his return to the United States that year, he served as a curate at the Church of the Nativity (Manhattan) until 1866, when he returned to Charleston and became a curate at St. Joseph's Church.[1] He was a missionary in New Bern, North Carolina (1868-1872), assistant rector of St. John's Cathedral and pastor of Sullivan's Island (1872-1877), and pastor of St. Patrick's Church 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 Joseph Keane and Thomas Albert Andrew Becker serving as co-consecrators.[3] In addition to his duties in North Carolina, he was named the fourth Bishop of Charleston on January 27, 1883.[3] He later resigned his charge as Vicar Apostolic on February 4, 1888, while remaining Bishop of Charleston.[3] Northrop died in June 7, 1916, at the age of 74.