“He Has African Blood”: Alexander Sherwood Healy (1836-1875)

Born in Georgia, Alexander Sherwood Healy (known as Sherwood) was the son of a planter. When he was a child, he and his siblings were sent north for an education. He and two of his brothers became priests. James became Bishop of Portland, Maine, and Patrick was the Jesuit president of Georgetown University. Their sister became a nun in Canada, and a brother was a Captain in the Coast Guard. Sherwood was a brilliant young man who studied in Rome and earned a canon law degree before being ordained a priest for the Diocese of Boston and named rector of the cathedral. What was not widely known about the family at the time was the fact that his mother was a slave. As one historian writes, the Healys spent their lives “passing for white.” In Alexander’s case, this was a little harder to do, since his features were visibly African-American. In fact, this was what held him up from being named first Rector of the North American College in Rome in 1859. One bishop wrote that while he was by far the best candidate for the job, “he has African blood and it shows distinctly.” Interestingly, though, Boston Catholics had no problem accepting him as rector of the cathedral. He died of tuberculosis at age 39 in 1875, a much beloved pastor.