Corby, William, 1833-1897

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He was born in Detroit, Michigan, to Daniel Corby, an Irish immigrant, and his wife Elizabeth, a Canadian. He attended public school until age 16, then joined his father's real estate business. In 1853, he enrolled in the 10-year-old college of Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana, and began study for the priesthood three years later. Following ordination, he taught at Notre Dame, and served as a local parish priest.

Corby left his position at Notre Dame and joined the predominately Catholic Irish Brigade in 1861. He spent the next three years as chaplain of the 88th New York Infantry, which was one of the five original regiments in the Irish Brigade. His memoir of the Irish Brigade became a best-seller.

During the battle of Antietam he rode back and forth along the lines of the Brigade, while shouting absolution to the men, of which 540 became casualties before the recall order was given.

He is perhaps best known for giving general absolution to the Irish Brigade on the second day of the Battle of Gettysburg. Of the Brigade's original 3,000 men, only about 500 remained. Of the men Father Corby absolved that day, 27 were killed, 109 were wounded, and 62 were listed as missing.

The scene of Fr. Corby blessing the troops was depicted in the 1891 painting Absolution under Fire by Paul Wood, and dramatized in the 1993 film Gettysburg.

A statue by Samuel Murray – Father Corby, with right hand raised in the gesture of blessing – stands upon the same boulder on which the priest stood while blessing the troops that morning. It was the first statue of a non-general erected on the Gettysburg Battlefield, and was dedicated in 1910.

He is widely remembered among military chaplains and celebrated by Irish-American fraternal organizations. Corby Hall at Notre Dame is named for him, and a copy of the Gettysburg statue stands outside the building. An organization of Notre Dame alumni is named The William Corby Society.

Following his service in the Civil War, he returned to Notre Dame and served as its vice-president, 1865–66; and president twice, 1866–72 and 1877-81. Under Corby's first administration, enrollment at Notre Dame increased to more than 500 students. In 1869 Corby opened the law school, which offered a two-year course of study, and in 1871 he began construction of Sacred Heart Church, today the Basilica of the Sacred Heart, Notre Dame. The institution was still small, and Corby taught in the classroom and knew most students and faculty members. In 1869, the entire student body and the faculty presented him with the gift of a 'black horse and, when he left the presidency three years later, they presented him with a matching carriage.

Corby became president again following the short term of Fr. Patrick Colovin. When Corby returned to the presidency, Notre Dame had not yet become a significant academic institution. Corby's presidency saw the April 1879 fire that destroyed the old Main Building of the school. Corby sent all students home and promised that they would return to a "bigger and better Notre Dame." Corby overcame the $200,000 fire loss and rebuilt the Main Building - which now stands with its "Golden Dome." During his administration, he also constructed Washington Hall (then named Music Hall), in which he took much pride, and started the construction of St. Edward's Hall for the minims program. In addition to his presidency, he was serving as the Holy Cross Provincial, when Rev. Sorin, who had become Superior General of the Congregation, wrote to him to tell him that he would have to relinquish one of his positions. Corby wanted to remain president, but was overruled by Sorin. Famous throughout the U.S. Catholic world as chaplain for the Irish Brigade, known as the "Fighting Irish," it may be that the nickname followed Father Corby back to Notre Dame, where it stuck.

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Grand Army of the Republic. Notre Dame Post 569 (Notre Dame, Ind.). Records, 1897-1931 (bulk 1897-1915). University of Notre Dame, Hesburgh Library
referencedIn Sullivan, Mary, 1870-1967. Papers, 1900s-1985. University of Notre Dame, Hesburgh Library
creatorOf Corby, William, 1833-1897. Papers, 1862-1897. University of Notre Dame, Hesburgh Library
referencedIn Wood, Paul, 1872-1891. Papers, 1887-1892. University of Notre Dame, Hesburgh Library
creatorOf Corby, William, 1833-1897. Father William Corby collection, 1888-1965. St. Edward's University Library, Munday Library
creatorOf Chamberlain, Orville T. (Orville Tryon), 1841-1929. Sorin Jubilee and Monument Correspondence, 1888-1906. University of Notre Dame, Hesburgh Library
referencedIn Catholic Church. Diocese of Covington (Ky.). Collection, 1858-1922. University of Notre Dame, Hesburgh Library
creatorOf Priests' Eucharistic League. Records, 1894-1897. University of Notre Dame, Hesburgh Library
creatorOf Rosen, Peter, 1850-1906. Papers, 1882-1887. University of Notre Dame, Hesburgh Library
referencedIn Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States Commandery of the State of Massachusetts Civil War collection, 1724-1933 (inclusive); 1861-1912 (bulk). Houghton Library
creatorOf Sisters Marianites of Holy Cross. Collection, 1842-1964. University of Notre Dame, Hesburgh Library
referencedIn Congregation of Holy Cross. Indiana Province. Records, 1842-1967. University of Notre Dame, Hesburgh Library
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn [New York] Corby, William - Unit: 88th Infantry, Company: F&S - Enlistment Rank: Chap, Discharge Rank: Chap National Archives at Washington, D.C
Place Name Admin Code Country
Notre Dame IN US
Gettysburg PA US
South Bend IN US
Antietam MD US
Detroit MI US
Subject
Antietam, Battle of, Md., 1862
Chaplains, Military
Civil War, 1861-1865
Civil War, 1861-1865
Education, Higher
Gettysburg, Battle of, Gettysburg, Pa., 1863
Occupation
Authors
Chaplains, Military
President, Educational Institution
Priests
Activity

Person

Birth 1833-10-02

Death 1897-12-28

Male

Americans

English

Information

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