Chapter Greg to Guthrie of G by Biographical Dictionary of English Literature

Greg to Guthrie

Greg, William Rathbone (1809-1881).—Essayist, born in Manchester, and educated at Bristol and Edinburgh, was for some years engaged in his father’s business as a millowner at Bury. Becoming deeply interested in political and social questions he contributed to reviews and magazines many papers and essays on these subjects, which were republished in three collections, viz., Essays on Political and Social Science (1854), Literary and Social Judgments (1869), and Miscellaneous Essays (1884). Other works of his are Enigmas of Life (1872), Rocks Ahead (1874), and Mistaken Aims, etc. (1876). In his writings he frequently manifested a distrust of democracy and a pessimistic view of the future of his country. He held successively the appointments of Commissioner of Customs and Controller of H.M. Stationery Office.

Greville, Charles Cavendish Fulke (1794-1865).—Political annalist, educated at Eton and Oxford, was a page to George III., secretrayto Earl Bathurst, and afterwards held the sinecure office of secretray of Jamaica. In 1821 he became Clerk to the Privy Council, an office which brought him into close contact with the leaders of both political parties, and gave him unusual opportunities of becoming acquainted with all that was passing behind the scenes. The information as to men and events thus acquired he fully utilised in his Journal of the Reigns of George IV., William IV., and Queen Victoria, which, edited by Henry Reeve, of the Edinburgh Review, was published in three series between 1874 and 1887. The Journal covers the period from 1820-60, and constitutes an invaluable contribution to the history of the time.

Griffin, Bartholomew? (flourished 1596).—Poet, of whom almost nothing is known, published in 1596 a collection of 62 sonnets under the title of Fidessa, of which some are excellent.

Griffin, Gerald (1803-1840).—Dramatist, novelist, and poet, son of a tradesman, born and educated in Limerick, he went in 1823 to London, where most of his literary work was produced. In 1838 he returned to Ireland and, dividing his property among his brothers, devoted himself to a religious life by joining the Teaching Order of the Christian Brothers. Two years thereafter he died, worn out by self-inflicted austerities. His chief novel, The Collegians, was adapted by Boucicault as The Colleen Bawn, and among his dramas is Gisippus. His novels depict southern Irish life.

Grimoald, Nicholas (1519-1562).—Poet, was at Cambridge and Oxford, and was chaplain to Bishop Ridley. He contributed to Tottel’s Songs and Sonnettes (1557), wrote two dramas in Latin, Archi-propheta and Christus Redivivus, and made translations.

Groome, Francis Hindes (1851-1902).—Miscellaneous writer, son of a clergyman, wrote for various encyclopædias, etc. He was a student of the gipsies and their language, and published In Gypsy Tents (1880), Gypsy Folk Tales (1899), and an edition of Borrow’s Lavengro (1900). Other works were A Short Border History (1887), Kriegspiel (1896), a novel, and Two Suffolk Friends (his father and Edward Fitzgerald, q.v.).

Grosart, Alexander Balloch (1827-1899).—w as a minister of the English Presbyterian Church. He wrote Lives of various Puritan divines, edited their works, and also issued ed., with Lives, of the poems of Michael Bruce (q.v.) and Robert Fergusson (q.v.). But his chief service to literature was his reprints, with notes, of rare Elizabethan and Jacobean literature, including Fuller’s Worthies Library, 39 vols. (1868-76), Occasional Issues of Unique and Very Rare Books, 38 vols. 1875-81, Huth Library, 33 vols. (1886), Spenser’s Works, 10 vols., Daniel’s Works, etc.

Grose, Francis (1731-1791).—Antiquary and lexicographer, of Swiss extraction, was Richmond Herald 1755-63. He published Antiquities of England and Wales (1773-87), which was well received, and thereafter, 1789, set out on an antiquarian tour through Scotland, the fruit of which was Antiquity of Scotland (1789- 91). He afterwards undertook a similar expedition to Ireland, but died suddenly at Dublin. In addition to the works above mentioned he wrote A Classical Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue (1785), A Provincial Glossary (1787), a Treatise on Ancient Armour and Weapons, etc. He was an accomplished draughtsman, and illustrated his works.