John Hutchinson

John Hutchinson (1837-1897) was a Roman Catholic priest. From 1884 to 1897 he was Vicar Apostolic and Bishop of Cooktown in Queensland, Australia. Early life Hutchinson was born on 2 January 1837 in Thomastown, County Kilkenny, Ireland, the son of James Hutchinson and Mary (née Cummings). Religion life Hutchison entered the Augustinian Order in 1861 and was ordained a priest on 30 October 1865. Father Hutchinson served for some years in the Augustinian Mission of St Monica, in Hoxton in the East End of London. In 1872 he was appointed first Prior of the newly appointed Novitiate and Home of Studies, St. Augustine's, Rathfarmham, near Dublin. At the provincial chapter of his order held in Dublin in 1883, Father Hutchinson was unanimously elected Prior-Provincial of the Irish Augustinian Province. In January 1884, he was appointed by Papal brief as Vicar-Apostolic of the Vicariate of Cooktown in Cooktown, Far North Queensland, Australia. Hutchison left immediately for Cooktown accompanied by Fathers O'Byrne and Murrayn. In 1885 he assisted at the Plenary Council of the Australia Bishops held in Sydney.