Richard Patrick Smith, was an Irish born, Roman Catholic priest who served as Archbishop of Port of Spain,

Trinidad Trinidad is the larger and more populous of the two major islands of Trinidad and Tobago. The island lies off the northeastern coast of Venezuela and sits on the continental shelf of South America. It is often referred to as the southernmos ...

. He was born in the parish of Kilbride, Co. Cavan, Diocese of Meath, on (St. Patrick's Day) the 17th of March, 1802. Having received his early education in Balljonachugh, he entered

Maynooth College St Patrick's Pontifical University, Maynooth ( ga, Coláiste Naoimh Phádraig, Maigh Nuad), is the "National Seminary for Ireland" (a Roman Catholic college), and a pontifical university, located in the town of Maynooth, from Dublin, Ireland ...

to study for the priesthood, for the Ardagh Mission (despite Smith being from the Meath diocese), and was ordained in 1825. It was highlighted in the Maynooth Commission Report in 1855, that Dr Smith was technically an external student in Maynooth, attending lectures while residing in the town, since he was destined for foreign missions, this would seem to have contravened the British Government's, statutes for the college. Shortly after ordination he decided to go on the Trinidad Mission, in preparation to preach the Gospel to the French Colonists, he went to France and entered

Saint-Sulpice, Paris , image = Paris Saint-Sulpice Fassade 4-5 A.jpg , image_size = , pushpin map = Paris , pushpin label position = , coordinates = , location = Place Saint-Sulpice6th arrondis ...

, where he remained for two years, mastering the French language, he arrived in Trinidad in 1827. Appointed Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic, 1837, in 1844 he was appointed Bishop of Port of Spain serving until his death. He had guided the diocese from vicar apostolate to archdiocese, and the transition from slave labour to waged labour. Smith died May 6, 1852.Bishop Richard Patrick Smith
Catholic Hierarchy. He had not nominated a successor, which led to some controversies in the diocese.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Smith, Richard Patrick 1802 births 1852 deaths People from County Cavan 19th-century Irish bishops Irish expatriate Catholic bishops Alumni of St Patrick's College, Maynooth