Biography:

Dr. James Leon Gregory Callaghan was born in London, Ontario on the 4th of December, 1902.  Dr. Callaghan was the 2nd of 3 children born to James Joseph Callaghan and the former Margaret Ellen Hoolihan. His father was an insurance agent and his siblings were: Vincent Ambrose Callaghan who was born on the 20th of November, 1900 and his younger sister was born on the 19th of March, 1904, however she did not survive infancy.  In 1921 the Callaghan family lived at 613 Wellington Street in London.  Dr. Callaghan was educated at St. Peter’s Roman Catholic Separate School and High School in London, Ontario.

Dr. Callaghan attended the University of Western Ontario in London and he graduated with honors with a Bachelor of Arts degree in science in 1925.  He entered medical school at the University of Western Ontario and graduated M.D. in 1928.

In a Declaration of Intention with the United States of America completed by Dr. Callaghan on the 13th of June, 1928, Dr. Callaghan recorded his address as 293 Rowena St., Detroit, Michigan.  Dr. Callaghan interned in New York City, then he was a chief resident intern at Victoria Hospital in London, Ontario for two years. He was certified in Diagnostic Radiology by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons in Canada.

Dr. Callaghan married Anna Regina Madden in New York City on the 7th of October, 1933.  Mrs. Callaghan was born in North Tarrytown, New York on the 25th of August, 1909.  She was the youngest of 9 children born to Henry “Harry” Madden and the former Anna L. Powers.  Her father was a stone mason and her siblings were; Mary Madden, Joseph Aloysious Madden, Callista D. Madden, James A. M. Madden, Dorothy E. Madden (died 02 January, 1916 at the age of 16), Regina H. Madden (died on the 17th of September, 1916 at the age of 14), Harry Madden and Ignatius Madden.  Mrs. Callaghan’s mother died when she was 7 years old and her father had died previously.  At that time the Madden family resided at 75 Pocantico Street in North Tarrytown.  After the death of her parents, Mrs. Callaghan’s older siblings financially supported the younger children and they remained at the home on Pocantico Street.  According to the 1929 and the 1930 City of New York Business Directories, Mrs. Callaghan was a student nurse, training at St. Johns Riverside Hospital in New York.

In 1933, Dr. and Mrs. Callaghan resided at 721 Dundas Street in London, Ontario.

Dr. and Mrs. Callaghan had two children, a daughter named Maryane Margaret Callaghan and a son named James E. Callaghan.

Dr. Callaghan practiced medicine at Kirkland Lake, Ontario until May of 1946 when he moved to Chatham, specializing in diagnostic radiology at St Joseph’s Hospital.  In 1949, Dr. Callaghan was the President of the Kent County Medical Society.  In 1967 he was the Chief of Radiology at St. Joseph’s Hospital.  Dr. Callaghan served as the Chairman of the Roman Catholic Separate School Board of Chatham. In his spare time, he enjoyed photography, fishing and travelling.

In the early 1970’s Dr. Callaghan was living in London.

Dr. Callaghan died in Willowdale, Ontario on the 26th of February, 1984.

*Dr. Callaghan’s brother Dr. Vincent Ambrose Callaghan practiced medicine in London.  He was also a faculty member at the University of Western Ontario.  Dr. Callaghan’s brother died in London on the 3rd of July, 1965.

**Dr. Callaghan’s son, Dr. James E. Callaghan also became a radiologist.

***Mrs. Callaghan’s brothers, Joseph Madden and James Madden both served with the United States Military during WWI and WWII.  Her brother Henry Madden served with the United States Military during WWII.