Dominic Laurence Graessel
Dominic Laurence Graessel, S.J. was an American Roman Catholic priest. "Laurence" is rendered in German as "Lorenz" or in English as "Lawrence", and he was the first German-American to be appointed bishop.
Born in Bavaria, Graessel joined the Society of Jesus and studied for the priesthood. When the order was suppressed, he continued his studies and was ordained. In 1781, he moved to the United States and worked with the Diocese of Baltimore. In May 1793 Graessel was named coadjutor of the diocese by the priests but died of yellow fever in October 1793. On December 8, 1793, Pope Pius VI confirmed Graessel coadjutor bishop and titular bishop of 'Samosata,' not knowing Graessel had died.
