 From the early 1930s Maritain was an established figure in Catholic thought. He visited North and South America and, beginning in January 1933, came periodically to the Institute of Mediaeval Studies and to St Michael’s College in Toronto (Canada) to give courses of lectures. Following his lectures in Toronto at the beginning of 1940, he moved to New York. With the occupation of France by the German military in June 1940, the Maritains decided not to return to France; Jacques taught at Columbia University (1941–44) as well as at Princeton (1941–42).