Michael A. Corrigan was the third President of Seton Hall College (now Seton Hall University). A native of Newark NJ, he was born on August 13, 1839, the fifth child of Thomas and Mary (English) Corrigan's nine. His parents emigrated from Ireland in the 1820s, and his father's grocer business and real estate investments enabled them to provide for Michael's education. Corrigan attended St. Mary's College in Wilmington, Delaware from 1853-1855 and upon graduating, entered Mount St. Mary's College in Emmitsburg, Maryland. Despite spending a year in Europe with his sister, Michael received his degree with first honors in 1859. Bishop James Roosevelt Bayley, learning of Corrigan's intention to study for the priesthood, assigned him to the first class of the newly established American College at Rome. Cardinal Patrizi conferred ordination on the seminarian on September 19, 1863, and a Doctor of Divinity degree followed one year later.

Shortly after returning to Newark in August 1864, Corrigan was appointed director of Seton Hall's Seminary of the Immaculate Conception and Professor of Dogmatic Theology and Sacred Scripture. In 1865, he became vice President of Seton Hall College, subsequently succeeding Bernard J. McQuaid as College President and Vicar General of the Diocese in 1867.

Pius IX appointed Corrigan Bishop of Newark in 1873, with the consecration taking place in St. Patrick's Cathedral on May 4th of that year. He served there until October 1, 1880, when Cardinal McCloskey, Archbishop of New York, and his suffragen Bishops agreed upon the Newark prelate as coadjutor with right of succession. Upon McCloskey's death in 1885, Corrigan automatically became Archbishop of New York.

For the next seventeen years, the Archbishop became embroiled in virtually every major controversy touching the American Church. A strict canonist, stalwart advocate of parochial schooling and unyielding opponent of secret societies, Corrigan gained wide renown as a principal spokesman for the Church's conservative wing. Widely publicized conflicts with Rev. Edward McGlynn and Archbishop John Ireland added to his reputation.

While conducting a visitation in the Bahamas, Corrigan contracted a severe cold and died on May 5, 1902.

Biographical sketch from previous finding aid by unknown author. Years in office retrieved from https://library.shu.edu/c.php?g=280441&p=1868811