Gorlæus (David), a Dutch philosopher, b. at Utrecht, towards the end of the sixteenth century, has been accused of Atheism on account of his speculations in a work published after his death entitled Exercitationes Philosophicæ, Leyden 1620.
Govea or Gouvea [Latin Goveanus] (Antonio), Portugese jurist and poet, b. 1505, studied in France and gained great reputation by his legal writings. Calvin classes him with Dolet, Rabelais, and Des Periers, as an Atheist and mocker. He wrote elegant Latin poems. Died at Turin, 5 March, 1565.
Gratiolet (Louis-Pierre), French naturalist, b. Sainte Foy, 6 July 1815, noted for his researches on the comparative anatomy of the brain. Died at Paris 15 Feb. 1865.
Graves (Kersey), American, author of The Biography of Satan, 1865, and The World’s Sixteen Crucified Saviors, 1876. Works of some vogue, but little value.
Gray (Asa), American naturalist, b. 18 Nov. 1810, Paris, Oneida Co., New York. Studied at Fairfield and became physician 1831. Wrote Elements of Botany, 1836, became Professor of Nat. Hist. at Harvard, and was the first to introduce Darwinism to America. Wrote an Examination of Darwin’s Treatise 1861. Succeeded Agassiz as Governor of Smithsonian Institute, and worked on American Flora. Died at Cambridge, Mass., 30 Jan. 1888.
Green (H. L.), American Freethinker, b. 18 Feb. 1828. Edits the Freethinker’s Magazine published at Buffalo, New York.
Greg (William Rathbone), English Writer, b. Manchester 1809. Educated at Edinburgh university, he became attracted to economic studies and literary pursuits. He was one of the founders of the Manchester Statistical Society, a warm supporter of the Anti-Corn Law League, and author of one of its prize essays. In ’40 he wrote on Efforts for the Extinction of the African Slave Trade. In ’50 he published his Creed of Christendom, which has gone through eight editions, and in 1872 his Enigmas of Life, of which there were thirteen editions in his life. He published also Essays on Political and Social Science, and was a regular contributor to the Pall Mall Gazette. His works exhibit a careful yet bold thinker and close reasoner. Died at Wimbledon 15 Nov. 1881.
Grenier (Pierre Jules), French Positivist, b. Beaumont, Perigord, 1838, author of a medical examination of the doctrine of free will, ’68, which drew out letter from Mgr. Dupanloup, Bishop of Orleans, imploring him to repudiate his impious doctrines. Also author of Aphorisms on the First Principles of Sociology, 1873.
“Grile (Dod),” pen name of Ambrose Bierce, American humorist, who wrote on the San Francisco News-Letter. His Nuggets and Dust and Fiend’s Delight, were blasphemous; has also written in Fun, and published Cobwebs from an Empty Skull, 1873.
Grimm (Friedrich Melchior von), Baron. German philosophic writer in French, b. Ratisbon, 26 Dec. 1723. Going to France he became acquainted with D’Holbach and with Rousseau, who was at first his friend, but afterwards his enemy. He became secretary to the Duke of Orleans, and wrote in conjunction with Diderot and Raynal caustic literary bulletins containing criticisms on French literature and art. In 1776 he was envoy from the Duke of Saxe Gotha to the French Court, and after the French Revolution was appointed by Catherine of Russia her minister at Hamburg. Grimm died at Gotha, 19 Dec. 1807. He is chiefly known by his literary correspondence with Diderot published in seventeen vols. 1812–1813.