Bishop Armand François Marie de Charbonnel, P.S.S.

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Armand François Marie de Charbonnel, P.S.S., was born on December 1, 1802 in France. He studied philosophy and theology at St. Sulpice Seminary, Paris, was ordained priest on December 17, 1825 by Archbishop de Quelen of Paris and entered the Sulpician Order. Father de Charbonnel was a professor at several institutions in France until his emigration to Canada in 1839. He served the diocese of Montreal until 1848 when he returned to France for health reasons.

On March 15, 1850, Father de Charbonnel was elected Bishop of Toronto and was consecrated in the Sistine Chapel by Pope Pius IX on May 26, 1850.

In the ten years of Bishop de Charbonnel's episcopate, the number of priests and parishes doubled and the Catholic population grew to 43,000 faithful. He travelled throughout Canada, the United States and Europe and used his personal funds to pay the Cathedral's debt. Bishop de Charbonnel also introduced the Basilian Fathers, the Brothers of the Christian Schools and the Sisters of St. Joseph to Toronto and was responsible for establishing the House of Providence.

On April 29, 1860, Bishop de Charbonnel resigned from the See of Toronto and retired to the Capuchin Monastery Crest, France. He died on March 29, 1891 and was interred at the Monastery.