Pierre Toussaint

Pierre Toussaint, a former Haitian-American enslaved man, was brought to New York in 1787. After gaining his freedom in 1807, he became a prominent barber and philanthropist, supporting numerous causes, including the construction of St. Patrick's Old Cathedral. Toussaint is recognized as the de facto founder of Catholic Charities New York. In 1996, Pope John Paul II declared him "Venerable." He is notably the only layperson buried in the crypt of St. Patrick's Cathedral on Fifth Avenue, usually reserved for Catholic bishops.