Joseph Anton Gall

Joseph Anton Gall (1748–1807) was the bishop of Linz from 1788 to 1807.

He was an adherent of Josephinism, and permitted the chancellor of the chapter, George Rechberger, a layman and Josephinist, to exercise great influence over the ecclesiastical administration of his diocese.

The general seminaries introduced in 1783 were set aside, and the training of the clergy was again made the care of the bishops.

Bishop Gall, therefore, exerted himself for years to establish a theological institute for his diocese; it was opened in 1794.

Another permanent service of the bishop was the founding of a seminary for priests; for this he bought in 1804 a house out of his own means, and made the institution heir to all his property.