362
VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY
and cause of that disease, but he was pre-
vented from serving by failing health. He
was for several years also a member of the
town council and board of health of Nor-
folk. Early in his career he was offered pro-
fessorships at the universities of Virginia
and Pennsylvania. His declination was
deeply regretted, since it was felt that with
his wide and profound knowledge of many
subjects he would have been an invaluable
adjunct to any institution of learning. Un-
fortunately, Dr. Selden wrote very little,
most of his productions being short articles
published in the medical magazines. Flis
two best known are: "History of the Yel-
low Fever Epidemic of 1855 in Norfolk,"
and his paper "On Fractures of the Neck of
the Femur." In the latter paper he report-
ed some of the earliest cases of bony union
as a result of the now recognized method of
treatment. Although deeply deploring the
necessity for secession he was loyal to his
state, and accepted appointment as surgeon
in the Confederate service in the hospitals
at Liberty, Virginia. Dr. Selden was mar-
ried to Lucinda, daughter of Dr. Daniel
Wilson, of Louisville, Kentucky, by whom
he had nine children. He died in Norfolk,
\'irgini;i. November 7, 1887.
McGill, John, born in Philadelphia, Penn- sylvania, November 4, 1809, son of James and Lavinia (Dougherty) McGill, who were natives of Ireland. His parents subsequently removed to Kentucky, where they located at Bardstown. John was placed at school in .St. Joseph's College and was graduated at that institution in 1828. Pie subsequently studied law, but afterwards deciding to de- vote himself to the priesthood entered St. Thomas' Seminarv at Bardstown for his
theological studies, completing them at St.
Mary's Seminary, Baltimore. Mr. McGill
v/as ordained on June 13, 1835, by Bishop
David, at Bardstown, Kentucky. He was first
made assistant pastor of St. Peter's Church,
Lexington, and was afterwards appointed
assistant to the Rev. Martin J. Spalding at
Louisville. In 1838 he was sent to Europe
to escort Bishop Flaget home, returning in
1839. In addition to his duties as assistant
to Dr. Spalding he was also given editorial
charge of the "Catholic Advocate." It was
through the columns of this paper that he
became widely known as a dogmatic writer.
He also delivered a series of dogmatic lec-
tures, which subsequently became identified
with the religious history of Louisville.
During his residence there he published two
religious works, "The True Church" and the
"Life of Calvin." In 1830, when the see of
Richmond was divided. Father McGill was
appointed bishop of Richmond. He was
consecrated at Bardstown on November 10,
1830, by Most Rev. Peter Richard Kenrick,
archbishop of St. Louis, assisted by Bishops
Spalding and Miles. Bishop McGill at once
assumed charge of the diocese, which was
not only poor in numbers but in resources
of every kind and in a greatly embarrassed
condition, which made the prospects of his
episcopate l)oth arduous and discouraging.
He entered upon them with a zeal and en-
ergy that could not but forecast success.
Bishop McGill at once set about improving
the condition of his diocese and began build-
ing churches and schools, and offered in-
ducements to religious communities to es-
tablish themselves in his see. He erected
and dedicated churches at Richmond, Nor-
folk, Fortress Monroe. Fredericksburg,
l^iirfax Station and \\'arrcnton. There
