Marischal college and university of Aberdeen, he was a fellow of the Royal Society, and one of the original founders of the Royal Astronomical Society. His principal works are the following—"Lessons, Astronomical and Physical," 1793 (this work has gone through four editions); "A Treatise on Astronomy," 1801; "A Treatise on Mechanics," in three volumes, 8vo, 1806 (a second edition of this work appeared in 1807, and a third in 1815); a "Translation of Häuy's Natural Philosophy," 1807; "Elements of Plane and Spherical Trigonometry," 1816; "Mathematics for Practical Men," 1825; "Hints to Teachers of Mathematics," 1840; "Letters on the Evidences of the Christian Religion," 1815; the mathematical and mechanical part of a scientific encyclopædia called "Pantologia;" "Memoirs of John Mason Good, M.D.," 1828. He also wrote a memoir of Robert Hall, and edited his works. He edited a new edition of Hutton's Mathematical Tables in 1830, and—along with T. S. Davies—one of Hutton's Course of Mathematics in 1840. He edited for many years the almanacs issued by the Stationers' Company. His works are characterized by sound knowledge, good arrangement, and clearness of explanation. His personal character was highly amiable and generous.—W. J. M. R.
GREIG, Samuel Carlowitz, was born in Scotland. He distinguished himself in the English navy when Hawke defeated Conflans near Belleisle, November 20, 1759, and at the taking of the Havannah in 1762. He entered the Russian navy in 1764, and the improvements which he introduced in shipbuilding obtained for him, six years later, the rank of rear-admiral. He was of material service to Count Orloff in his naval expedition to the Archipelago, which ended in the destruction of the Turkish fleet at the battle of Tchesme. In 1775 he was appointed to the command of Cronstadt, the fortifications of which he strengthened; and he was also rewarded with an estate in Livonia. Becoming an admiral in 1782, he defeated the Swedes off Sweaborg in 1788, and died in the same year on board his ship, leaving behind him valuable plans for the capture of that stronghold. His grandson served against us at the siege of Sebastopol, and is now attached to the Grand-duke Constantine.—W. J. P.
GRENVILLE, George, Right Honourable, a distinguished statesman, was born the 14th of October, 1712. Educated at Eton and Oxford, he was called to the bar; but at the desire of his maternal uncle, Lord Cobham, he devoted himself to politics. He represented the borough of Buckingham, in successive parliaments, from 1741 until his death in 1770. He early accepted office, and passed by regular gradations to the highest post. Somewhat austere in character, of undoubted integrity, assiduous and fond of business, he was in many respects well qualified for the conduct of public affairs, and he was especially conversant with the business of the house of commons. In 1744 he was made a lord of the admiralty; in 1747 a lord of the treasury. He was treasurer of the navy from 1754 to 1762, with some intervals. Then on separating himself from his brother Lord Temple, and Pitt his brother-in-law, he attached himself to Lord Bute, and was made secretary of state. In October, 1762, he quitted that office to become first lord of the admiralty; and finally, on the resignation of Bute in April, 1763, Grenville was appointed first lord of the treasury and chancellor of the exchequer. He was nominally the prime minister, but virtually no more than a tool of Bute's and the king's. In this high office, something different from bureaucratic perfection was wanted—something which Grenville had not. His name is identified with two of the most remarkable mistakes the English government ever made. He began an inglorious war with Wilkes, which lasted seven years; and he introduced the stamp act which led to the ruinous war with our American colonies and their ultimate severance from the parent state. The consequences of his colonial legislation were not seen till after his resignation. The Grenville ministry fell finally in 1765, through their mismanagement of the regency bill, which was introduced to parliament immediately after the king's first transient malady. Grenville died in November, 1770. Regular and exact in his family, Mr. Grenville discharged in the most exemplary manner every social and religious duty. Besides the famous stamp act, there are associated with Mr. Grenville's name two other bills; one passed in 1757 for the more regular payment of the navy; and one passed in 1770 for regulating the proceedings of the house of commons on controverted elections. The latter has been described by Hatsell as "one of the noblest works for the honour of the house of commons and the security of the constitution that ever was devised by any minister or statesman." Many interesting features in the character of this eminent man are displayed in his correspondence published in the Grenville Papers, edited by W. J. Smith, 1852. Mr. Grenville is said to be the author of a vindication of his own ministry, published in 1766, entitled "Considerations on the Commerce and Finances of England, and on the measures taken by the ministry from the conclusion of the peace, relative to the great objects of national interest;" also a pamphlet entitled "The present state of the nation," 1768, has been ascribed to him.—R. H.
GRENVILLE, George Nugent, the second son of George, marquis of Buckingham, and of his wife, Baroness Nugent, was born on 31st December, 1789, and succeeded to his mother's title and estates on 16th March, 1813. He took a keen interest in politics and adopted those of the most liberal cast. He sat some time in the house of commons for Aylesbury, but in 1832 was appointed lord high-commissioner of the Ionian isles, which office he held until 1835. In 1831 he published "Memorials of John Hampden, his party, and his times," which, was severely handled by Southey in the Quarterly Review, 1832. The notice in the Quarterly brought out a rejoinder in the shape of a letter from Lord Nugent to Mr. Murray the publisher, to which Southey replied in another letter, "touching Lord Nugent." Both pamphlets are valuable as illustrations of Hampden and his times. Another work of Lord Nugent's, "Lands classical and sacred," appeared in 1843. He also published "Legends of the Library at Lilies," that being the name of his seat in Bucks. On his death, which took place on the 27th of November, 1850, the title became extinct.—R. H.
GRENVILLE, Thomas, Right Hon., an eminent statesman and classical scholar, son of the Right Hon. George Grenville, and brother of the celebrated Lord Grenville. He was born in 1755. He entered parliament at an early age, and soon attracted the notice of Charles James Fox, who formed so high an opinion of his talents, that he intended him for the governor-generalship of India, had he succeeded in passing his celebrated India bill. In 1784 Grenville lost his seat at the general election, and he retired from public life for upwards of six years, devoting his time to classical literature. He again entered parliament, however, in 1790 as member for Aldborough, and six years later, he was returned for Buckingham, when he separated from Fox and gave a cordial support to government. He was sent to Berlin in 1795 as minister-extraordinary, to induce the king of Prussia to combine with England and her allies in resisting the republican aggressions of France; but in this mission he did not succeed. He was appointed chief-justice in Eyre, south of Trent, in 1800, as some compensation for the disappointments he had experienced; but the office, which was a sinecure, was abolished in 1817. In 1806 he was appointed first lord of the admiralty, which office he held only a few months. In 1807 Grenville may be said to have retired from parliamentary life. For many years he had been collecting valuable and scarce works, and the income he received as chief-justice in Eyre, he expended on his library, which at his death was valued at £42,000, and consisted of more than twenty thousand volumes. This valuable collection he bequeathed to the British museum. He died in 1847.—W. H. P. G.
GRENVILLE, William Wyndham Grenville, Lord, a distinguished statesman, third son of George Grenville, was born in 1759. He was educated first at Eton, and then at the university of Oxford, where he acquired great distinction by his classical attainments. He was elected a member of the house of commons in February, 1782, and in September the same year went to Ireland with his brother. Lord Temple, who had been appointed lord-lieutenant of that country. On the overthrow of the Shelburne administration, Grenville returned to England, and in December, 1783, was appointed paymaster-general of the forces by his kinsman Mr. Pitt, to whom he rendered most valuable assistance in the house of commons. In January, 1789, he was chosen speaker, though strongly opposed by Fox and Burke on the ground of his youth and inexperience. But a few months later, he was appointed secretary of state for home affairs, became Mr. Pitt's principal colleague, and in November, 1790, was raised to the peerage by the title of Lord Grenville. The critical state of the continent, and of our relations with France at this period, made it exceedingly desirable that the management of foreign affairs should be intrusted to a member of the cabinet in whom the premier and his colleagues had entire confidence; Lord Grenville was therefore transferred to that department in
