He was born on July 20, 1872 in New York City to a family of German ancestry, and ordained a priest on June 8, 1895 in the Diocese of Brooklyn. On June 30, 1909 he was appointed Titular Bishop of Loryma and Auxiliary Bishop of Brooklyn, New York where he was ordained a bishop on September 21, 1909. He was appointed Archbishop of Chicago, on December 9, 1915 and installed February 9, 1916. He was elevated to Cardinal on March 24, 1924, and served as archbishop until his death at the age of 67.