Dominic Laurence Graessel

Dominic Laurence Graessel, (Lorenz Grässel) (August 18, 1753 – October 1793) was an American Roman Catholic Jesuit.

[2] In 1781, Grässel left his native land for the American mission at the invitation of fellow Jesuit Ferdinand Steinmeyer,[1] commonly referred to as "Father Farmer", who served areas of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York.

In March 1787, Grässel was given charge of the German members of St. Mary's congregation in Philadelphia and of the Catholics scattered through New Jersey, all territories then within the Diocese of Baltimore.

The petition was granted, making Grässel the first German-born Catholic appointed to a bishopric in the United States, though he was never consecrated a bishop.

In October 1793 Grässel succumbed to yellow fever contracted while attending the victims of the plague which that year ravaged Philadelphia.