James Aloysius Doonan SJ (November 8, 1841 – April 12, 1911) was an American Catholic priest and Jesuit, who was the president of Georgetown University from 1882 to 1888.

Terrence was entrusted by the local priest with keeping the parish records until a pastor was appointed, and the first Catholic baptism in Atlanta was performed in his home.

Doonan was said to frequently recount a story of the time he was present at a High Mass in Baltimore when word of the approaching Union Army caused the congregants to leave and take up arms.

As a staunch supporter of the Confederacy, he was aggrieved at being forced by the Union Army to bear arms on their behalf and act as a sentinel for several hours.

[9] He did continue to receive large donations that had been elicited during his predecessor's term of office; coupled with his sale of a villa in Tenleytown and a farm on Hickory Hill (near Glover Park) that were owned by the university, he was able to reduce the significant debt of more than $300,000,[10] equivalent to $9.47 million in 2023,[11] which had accrued from the construction of Healy Hall.

His efforts were praised by the Jesuit provincial superior, Thomas J. Campbell, and Doonan would leave office with a greatly reduced debt.

[15] The cannons had been brought to America aboard the Ark and the Dove, which carried the first settlers to the Province of Maryland as part of Lord Baltimore's 1634 expedition to St. Mary's County.

[14] During Doonan's presidency, a new building was constructed for the School of Medicine,[17] which was designed by Paul J. Pelz and erected on the corner of 10th and E Streets in the summer of 1886.

[21] Doonan's presidency came to an end in mid-August 1888, when he was sent by the Jesuit provincial superior to New York City,[8] and was succeeded by Joseph Havens Richards.

[26] In 1902, he was appointed the spiritual director of the Jesuit community at Saint Joseph's College and the Church of the Gesú in Philadelphia, succeeding Burchard Villiger.