Bishop John Carroll was the first Roman Catholic bishop in the United States, appointed in 1789. He played a crucial role in establishing the Catholic Church in America and was instrumental in founding several institutions, including Georgetown University, the first Catholic university in the U.S. Carroll worked to promote religious freedom and education for Catholics in a predominantly Protestant nation. Born in 1735 in Maryland, Carroll was a member of the Carroll family, a prominent Catholic family in the colonies. He was ordained a priest in 1769 and became a leader in the American Catholic community during the Revolutionary War. Carroll's legacy continues to influence the Catholic Church in America today.