Kirwin, James Martin, The Rt. Rev. Monsignor

(July 1, 1872 - January 24, 1926) A native of Circleville, Ohio, young Catholic priest James Martin Kirwin arrived in Galveston in 1896. He was soon appointed Vicar General of the Diocese of Galveston by Bishop Nicholas A. Gallagher. As rector of St. Mary's Cathedral, Father Kirwin's work as a civic and religious leader was felt throughout the city. In 1900, following the disastrous Galveston storm, Kirwin was instrumental in forming the Committee for Public Safety, which provided oversight for relief efforts and control of the devastated city. Together with his friend Rabbi Henry Cohen, Father Kirwin was a leading force in rebuilding Galveston. He helped lay the cornerstone of the Galveston Seawall in 1902 and participated in ceremonies marking its completion two years later. Kirwin was also instrumental in settling labor disputes on Galveston's docks and in forming the Galveston Home Protective League, an organization whose purpose was to remove saloons from residential neighborhoods. He led in the fight against the local Ku Klux Klan in the 1920s. When Monsignor Kirwin died in 1926, the whole city mourned one of its most respected citizens. His body was returned to his hometown for burial.

Kirwin, James Martin, The Rt. Rev. Monsignor is a historical marker in Galveston, Galveston County, dedicated in 1989. It is one of 283 historical markers documented in Galveston County in the Texas Historical Commission Atlas, among 373 historic sites cataloged across the county.

The site sits at 29.3031, -94.7901 near Galveston. The nearest cataloged historic site is Rabbi Henry Cohen (historical marker), about under a tenth of a mile away. Others within a short drive include Galveston County, Exploration of, Galveston County Communities, and Norris Wright Cuney.

This record corresponds to Texas Historical Commission Atlas #5167007507. Use the map below for its exact position and turn-by-turn directions.