As the United States began her life as an independent nation, the American Church too was making history as she moved for- ward under the guidance of John Carroll, the first American Catholic bishop.

He was called "Jacky" as he grew up on a Maryland plantation and left for Europe to receive the Catholic education which was impossible in his home colony. He sailed with his cousin, Charles Carroll of Carrollton— Carroll "the Signer" — whose bold signature appears on the Declaration of Independence. They faced a pirate attack on the high seas and shared boarding-school fun at the Jesuit school of St. Omer. From there "Jacky" Carroll entered the seminary.

Young Father Carroll came home to find his country about to begin its War for Independence. This is the bishop's story, set against the exciting background of the work of the Continental Congress, the fight for freedom, the War of 1812. Here are the people who made history: Benjamin Franklin, Mother Elizabeth Seton, Francis Scott Key, and John Carroll—bishop and patriot.

From the dust jacket