Manning, Henry Edward

Manning, Henry Edward (1808-1892), was the Roman Catholic archbishop of Westminster. Manning was a founder of Westminster Cathedral, in London, in the late 1860’s. The cathedral finally opened in 1903, after his death. Manning was prominent in social work of many kinds and worked to improve housing and education for the poor. He supported the doctrine of papal infallibility at the Vatican Council in 1870.

Manning was born on July 15, 1808, in Totteridge, Hertfordshire, England, and educated at Harrow School and Oxford University (1827-1830). He was ordained in the Church of England in 1832 and supported the Tractarians, reformers within the Church of England who favored Roman Catholic ideas. In 1851, he became a Roman Catholic and was ordained a Catholic priest that same year. Manning became archbishop of Westminster in 1865 and a cardinal 10 years later. He died on Jan. 14, 1892.