Elizabeth Ann Bayley Seton (1774-1821) Founder of USA's Parochial School System

Elizabeth was a Catholic, religious sister, in the USA and an educator. She was known as the founder of the country’s parochial school system. She was the first American citizen to be canonized. Feast Day 4th January

She was raised as an Episcopalian. She married William Seton and they had 5 children. William died in 1803 from tuberculosis.

In 1805, 2 years after her husband’s death, she converted to Catholicism.
To support herself she had started an academy for young ladies. On hearing of her conversion parents withdrew their daughters!

The Sulpician Fathers , a French emigre community, were in the process of establishing the first Catholic seminary in the USA. Father Dubourg had envisioned a religious school to meet the educational needs of the new nation’s small Catholic community. Elizabeth accepted the invitation and moved to Emmitsburg, Maryland.

She established the first Catholic girl’s school, Saint Joseph’s Academy and Free School in Emmitsburg.

In 1809 she founded the first American congregation of religious sisters - Sisters of Charity.- they were initially called Sister of Charity of St. Joseph. They adopted the rules of the Daughters of Charity, co-founded in France by Vincent de Paul and Louisa de Manilac. Elizabeth was now Mother Seton.
Elizabeth, a charming and cultured lady, spent her last 12 years leading and developing the new congregation of sisters.

Legacy Her name has been used by buildings, charities, churches, hospitals and schools across the world. (See Eponymous institutions list)

Saint Elizabeth Seton -canonized by the Catholic Church September 14 , 1975

Sources
Wikipedia
The Encyclopedia of Saints by Howard Loxton