The American clergy, originally reluctant to request the formation of a diocese due to fears of public misunderstanding and the possibility of a foreign bishop being imposed upon them, eventually recognized the need for a Catholic bishop.
The election of Samuel Seabury (1729–1796) in 1783 as the first bishop of the Protestant Episcopal Church (the name chosen as the daughter Church of England in the colonies) in the United States had shown that Americans had accepted the appointment of a Protestant bishop.

On November 26, 1784, the Holy See established the Apostolic Prefecture of the United States.
Carroll, as Prefect Apostolic in February 1785, urged Cardinal Antonelli to create a method of appointing church authorities that would not make it appear as if they were receiving their appointment from a foreign power.
A report of the status of Catholics in Maryland was appended to his letter, where he stated that despite there being only nineteen priests in Maryland, some of the more prominent families were still Catholic in faith.
He did say that they may have been prone to dancing and novel-reading.
The pope was so pleased with Carroll's report that he granted his request "that the priests in Maryland be allowed to suggest two or three names from which the Pope would choose their bishop".

The priests of Maryland petitioned Rome for a bishop.
Cardinal Antonelli replied, allowing the priests to select the city for a cathedral and, for this case only, to name the candidate for presentation to the pope.
Carroll was selected Bishop of Baltimore by the clergy of the US in April 1789 by a vote of 24 out of 26.
On November 6, 1789, Pope Pius VI approved the election, naming Carroll the first Catholic bishop in the young nation.
 He was consecrated by Bishop Charles Walmesley on August 15, 1790 in the chapel of Lulworth Castle in Dorset, England, without an oath to the English church.
Carroll was invested in his office at the parish of St. Thomas Manor in Charles County, Maryland.
When he returned to Baltimore, he took his chair in the Church of St. Peter, which would serve as his pro-cathedral.
St. Peter's was the first Catholic parish in Baltimore Town in 1770 and was located at the northwestern corner of North Charles and West Saratoga streets.
It had an attached rectory and school, and was surrounded by a cemetery.
The American clergy, originally reluctant to request the formation of a diocese due to fears of public misunderstanding and the possibility of a foreign bishop being imposed upon them, eventually recognized the need for a Catholic bishop. The election of Samuel Seabury (1729–1796) in 1783 as the first bishop of the Protestant Episcopal Church (the name chosen as the daughter Church of England in the colonies) in the United States had shown that Americans had accepted the appointment of a Protestant bishop.
On November 26, 1784, the Holy See established the Apostolic Prefecture of the United States. Carroll, as Prefect Apostolic in February 1785, urged Cardinal Antonelli to create a method of appointing church authorities that would not make it appear as if they were receiving their appointment from a foreign power. A report of the status of Catholics in Maryland was appended to his letter, where he stated that despite there being only nineteen priests in Maryland, some of the more prominent families were still Catholic in faith. He did say that they may have been prone to dancing and novel-reading. The pope was so pleased with Carroll's report that he granted his request "that the priests in Maryland be allowed to suggest two or three names from which the Pope would choose their bishop".
The priests of Maryland petitioned Rome for a bishop. Cardinal Antonelli replied, allowing the priests to select the city for a cathedral and, for this case only, to name the candidate for presentation to the pope. Carroll was selected Bishop of Baltimore by the clergy of the US in April 1789 by a vote of 24 out of 26. On November 6, 1789, Pope Pius VI approved the election, naming Carroll the first Catholic bishop in the young nation.  He was consecrated by Bishop Charles Walmesley on August 15, 1790 in the chapel of Lulworth Castle in Dorset, England, without an oath to the English church. Carroll was invested in his office at the parish of St. Thomas Manor in Charles County, Maryland. When he returned to Baltimore, he took his chair in the Church of St. Peter, which would serve as his pro-cathedral. St. Peter's was the first Catholic parish in Baltimore Town in 1770 and was located at the northwestern corner of North Charles and West Saratoga streets. It had an attached rectory and school, and was surrounded by a cemetery.
John Carroll (archbishop of Baltimore)