Sebastian Gebhard Messmer
Sebastian Gebhard Messmer | |
|---|---|
| Archbishop of Milwaukee | |
| See | Archdiocese of Milwaukee |
| Installed | December 10, 1903 |
| Term ended | August 4, 1930 |
| Predecessor | Frederick Katzer |
| Successor | Samuel Stritch |
| Other post(s) | Bishop of Green Bay (1892–1903) |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | July 23, 1871 |
| Consecration | March 27, 1892 |
| Personal details | |
| Born | August 29, 1847 |
| Died | August 4, 1930 (aged 82) Goldach, Switzerland |
| Nationality | Swiss |
| Denomination | Catholic Church |
| Education | University of Innsbruck Pontifical Roman Athenaeum Saint Apollinare |
Sebastian Gebhard Messmer (August 29, 1847 – August 4, 1930) was a Swiss-born American Catholic prelate who served as Archbishop of Milwaukee from 1903 to 1930. He previously served as Bishop of Green Bay (1892–1903).
Messmer is largely remembered as a political moderate. As a progressive for his time, Messmer opposed segregationist church policies based on race or language, and he was a major supporter of expanding Catholic-run welfare programs. But he also pushed back against socialism as the movement was growing in Wisconsin, and he opposed women gaining the right to vote.