Legal, Emil, 1849-1920

• Legal, Bishop Emil, 1849-1920

• Bishop Emile Legal, O.M.I.

Bishop Legal was born at Nantes, France in 1849 and was ordained in 1874. After he finished his classical studies at Nantes he graduated from the University of France where he studied theology philosophy, canon law and Hebrew under the Sulpicians. After ordination he taught science in the seminary and ecclesiastical colleges until he joined the Oblates six years later. Ha arrived in St. Albert in 1881 and was sent immediately to the Southern Missions as Superior. He worked out of Fort Macleod with Fr. Doucet. For 16 years he was missionary to the Blood and Piegan Indians on their Reserves until he was consecrated Bishop in 1897, coadjutor to Bishop Grandin whom he succeeded in 1902.
Under his leadership Calgary was made a new diocese in 1912 and Legal was appointed administrator until Bishop McNally arrived nearly nine months later. Edmonton was mad a Metropolitan Province in 1912 and Legal was made Archbishop. He died in Edmonton on May 10, 1920.

Nantes, France
Edmonton, Alberta

Bishop

Created Sept 7, 2017; Revised Apr 6, 2021

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M.B. Venini Byrne, 'From the Buffalo to the Cross: a History of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Calgary'. (Calgary: Calgary Archives and Historical Publishers, 1973)