On November 28, 1843, the Diocese of Hartford was established by Pope Gregory XVI with Willam Tyler as its first bishop. At the time of its creation, there were 10,000 Catholics in the area. Tyler was able to petition successfully to move the See of Hartford to Providence, Rhode Island, in order to be nearer to the majority of the Catholics. He attended the Seventh Provincial Council of Baltimore which convened 5 May 1849, but weakened by consumption died the following month, having served for 5 years.