Thomas O'Neill was born in 1849 in County Cavan, Ireland very near to where the Lords Baltimore had their estate. He came with his family to the United States in 1866, settling in Baltimore. Then, at the age of sixteen, Thomas hired himself out as an apprentice in a linen shop.

Within seventeen years he was partner in his own shop at Charles and Lexington Streets. He soon bought out his partner and by the time of his death he was a multi-millionaire employing almost 500 workers in his store and businesses.

It was this store that survived the great fire of Baltimore in 1904. It is said that O’Neill prayed during the fire that, if his store was saved, he would build a great church in honor of the Blessed Mother. Just as the flames began licking the south wall of his building, the wind shifted. His store escaped destruction.

Many believe that this miracle, along with his great personal piety and devotion, led Mr. O'Neill to leave the majority of his money to the Archdiocese of Baltimore for the construction of a cathedral. He died shortly after attending Mass on Passion Sunday, 1919, from a severe stroke. He was survived by his wife, Mrs. Roberta LeBrou O'Neill, whom he had married in 1890. Upon her death in 1936, two-thirds of his estate became available for the construction of a new cathedral; the remainder was ear-marked for a new hospital.

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