Gregory of Tours

Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921)

a Frankish historian mont), Auvergne; born in, Arverna France, ( about He belonged to one of the most guished Roman families of Gaul. ally called Georgius Florentius, he assumed the name Gregory out of respect for his mother's grandfather, Gregory, Bishop of Langres. He was educated by his uncle, Gallus, Bishop of Clermont, and after his death by Avitus, a priest of his native town. Upon his recovery from a severe sickness Gregory resolved to devote himself solely to the service the of Church, and by the choice of the clergy and people and favor of Sigbert, King of Austrasia, to whom Auvergne had fallen on the death of Clothan I. in 561, he became Bishop of Tours in 573. He gave himself zealously to his sacred office and the public good. In the struggles between Sigbert and his wife Brunhilda on the one side against Chilperic and his wife Fredegond on the other he took the side of the former, and in the vicissitudes of a conflict in which Tours frequently changed masters had to suffer many persecutions. After the death of Chilperic he enjoyed great influence over his successors, Guntram and Childebert II. His fame rests on his "History, or Annals," the chief authority for the his tory of Gaul in the 6th century. He died in Tours, France, Nov. 17, 594. GREGORY, THOMAS WATT, an American lawyer and public official; born at Crawfordsville, Miss., in 1861. He was educated at the Southwestern her years native old, Presbyterian University of Clarksville, Tenn., the University of Virginia, and Christian, the University of Texas. Admitted to the bar in Texas in 1885, he practiced alone until 1900 when the firm of Gregory and Butts was formed. As special counsel for the State of Texas and as special assistant Attorney General of the United States, he took part in many of the government cases of prosecutions under the Sherman Act. In 1914 he was appointed Attorney-General of the United States by President Wilson, and served until 1919 when he resumed private practice in New York City. established his 2½ of GREIFSWALD Prussia miles, in the province ( grifs'vält of Pomerania), a town; from the mouth of the Ryck consecrated and 25 miles Church university ( founded in 1456) is equipped S. E. of Stralsund. The with medical museums, laboratories, etc.; the library contains about 135,000 vol- There is a considerable shipping umes. trade. The chief industries include the making of machinery, chains, and railway wagons, the curing of herrings, and iron-founding. Shortly after being made a town (1250) Greifswald joined the now Cler- 540. Hanseatic League. At the peace of Westdistin- of phalia ( 1648) it came into the possession Origin- of Sweden; but together with the whole Swedish Pomerania was ceded to Prussia in 1815. Pop. about 25,000.