Thomas Henry McLaughlin was the ninth President of Seton Hall. He was born July 15, 1881 in New York City to John B. and Margaret Byrne McLaughlin. His family moved to Montclair, New Jersey while he was a teenager. His college studies were completed at the College of Saint Francis Xavier in New York. He then attended the University of Innsbruck in Austria for theological studies where he was ordained July 26, 1904. McLaughlin received his doctorate in sacred theology in 1908.

Upon his return to the United States, McLaughlin served Seton Hall College in many capacities, first as Vice-President from 1908-1922. In 1922, he was elected President and Rector of Immaculate Conception Seminary. He served as President until 1933 and as rector until 1938. During his time at Seton Hall, he oversaw the move of the seminary from the South Orange campus to the site in Darlington, New Jersey. He was named vicar general of the Archdiocese of Newark and consecrated Auxiliary Bishop and Titular Bishop of Nisa in 1935. Upon the creation of the Diocese of Paterson, he was installed as the first Bishop on April 28, 1938.

He sometimes went by the nickname 'Schlitz.' Bishop McLaughlin died March 17, 1947.