Page:Collier's New Encyclopedia v. 04.djvu/478

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GRENTALL 40C GRESHAM to that date it had a constitutional gov- ernment. Columbus was the discoverer of the island in 1498. GRENFELL, SIR WILFRED THOM- ASON, an English medical missionary, born near Chester, England, 1865, of an influential family and graduated from Oxford. He then studied medicine at London Hospital. In 1889, under the auspices of the Royal National Mission to Deep Sea Fishermen, he equipped a hospital ship to accompany the fishing fleets from the North Sea ports to Ice- land. Three years later he went to Lab- rador and New Foundland, where he es- tablished hospitals at many points along the coast, making his headquarters at Saint Anthony. A large part of his time, however, is spent on the large steam hospital ship, "Strathcona," on which he visits all parts of the coast. He has also instituted a chain of co- operative stores among the fishermen making for their economic betterment. He wrote many books, chief of which are "Off the Rocks" (1906); "Down to the Sea" (1910) ; "Down North on the Lab- rador" (1911) ; "The Adventures of Life" (1912) ; etc. GRENOBLE (gre-n5'bl), a fortified town of France; capital of the depart- ment of Isere, on the Isere, 60 miles S. E. of Lyons. Grenoble occupies both sides of the river, which is crossed by three bridges, and lined by fine quays. It has a cathedral, and a more note- worthy church (Saint- Andre), with the tomb of Bayard; a public library of 170,- 000 volumes; a college, museum, bishop's palace, court house, arsenal, and exten- sive public gardens. The manufactures consist of gloves, which may be con- sidered the staple, linen and hemp goods, liquors, leather, etc. Grenoble existed in the time of Csesar; and Gratian, who had improved it, changed its name from Cularo to Gratianopolis. Pop. about 80,000. GRENVILLE. GEORGE, an English statesman; born Oct. 14, 1712; was younger brother of Richard Grenville, Earl Temple, and brother-in-law of the Earl of Chatham. He entered Parlia- ment in 1714, and from 1744 to 1762 filled several government offices. In 1757 he introduced a bill for the regulation of the payment of the navy. In 1762 he became Secretary of State, and then First Lord of the Admiralty; and in the following year he succeeded Lord Bute as prime minister, uniting in himself the offices of Chancellor of the Exchequer and First Lord of the Treasury. The most prominent facts of his administra- tion were the prosecution of Wilkes and the passing of the American Stamp Act, which first drove the American colonies to resistance. He resigned the premier- ship in 1765, and died in London, Eng- land, Nov. 13, 1770. GRENVILLE, SIR RICHARD, an English naval officer; born about 1541; cousin of Sir Walter Raleigh. In 1585 he was given command of a fleet of seven vessels to aid in the colonization of Vir- ginia. His most brilliant exploit occurred in 1591, when he attempted to cut his way through a Spanish fleet of 53 ships. His ship was becalmed and attacked by 15 of the largest Spanish vessels. Not till after 15 hours of battle and when only 20 out of his 150 men were left alive did he strike his colors. He died in Sep- tember, 1591, from wounds received in the engagement. GRESHAM, SIR THOMAS, an Eng- lish financier; born in 1519; only son of Sir Richard Gresham. Apprenticed to his uncle. Sir John Gresham, a wealthy London mercer, and then sent to study at Gonville Hall, Cambridge, in 1543 he was admitted a member of the Mercers' Company, and in 1551 was employed as "king's merchant" at Antwerp. In two years he paid off a heavy loan, entirely restored the king's credit, and introduced a new system of finance. As a Protes- tant, he got his dismissal from Queen Mary, but on presenting a memorial of his past services, was soon reinstated. By Queen Elizabeth he was in 1559 knighted and appointed for a short time English ambassador at the court of the regent at Brussels. The troubles in the Netherlands compelled him, in 1567, to withdraw finally from Antwerp. In 1569, by his advice, the State was induced to borrow money from London merchants, instead of from other foreigners, to the great advantage of the mercantile body. Having in 1564 lost his only son, Richard, in 1566-1571 he devoted a portion of his great wealth to the erection of an Ex- change in imitation of that of Antwerp, for the London merchants, who were wont to meet in the open air. Renowned for his hospitality and liberality, he fre- quently entertained foreign personages of distinction, and erected a magnificent mansion at Osterly Park, near Brent- ford, where he was visited by Queen Elizabeth. For the endowment of a col- lege in London he directed by his will that his town mansion in Bishopsgate street should be converted into a resi- dence and lecture rooms for seven pro- fessors, to be salaried out of the royal exchange revenues. He also provided for the erection and support of eight almshouses, and made many other chari-