Peter Leo Ireton (September 21, 1882 – April 27, 1958) was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as bishop of the Diocese of Richmond in Virginia from 1945 until his death in 1958.
Ireton was ordained to the priesthood for the Archdiocese of Baltimore by Cardinal James Gibbons on June 20, 1906.[2] He then studied for a year at the Apostolic Mission House in Washington, D.C.[3] Returning to Baltimore, Ireton served as a curate at St. Gregory's Parish in Baltimore until 1926, when he became pastor of St. Ann's Parish in Baltimore.[1] He became instrumental in founding the Junior Holy Name Society and the Big Brother Movement.[3] He was named a domestic prelate with the title of monsignor by the Vatican in 1929.[1]
Following the resignation of Bishop Andrew Brennan, Ireton automatically became the ninth bishop of Richmond on April 14, 1945.[2] Ireton was named by the Vatican as an assistant at the pontifical throne in 1956.[3] During his tenure as bishop, Ireton established 42 parishes, built 24 schools, and increased the Catholic population from 37,000 to 147,000.[4]