George, Saint
Saint, a Christian martyr who was put to death at Nicomedia in 303. The history of St. George is obscure, his existence even having been called in question. It is beyond reasonable doubt, however, that he lived and was put to death for his faith during Diocletian's persecution. He was venerated by the eastern church, and in the fourteenth century, under Edward III, was adopted as the patron saint of England. Many legends are told of Saint George. The best known is of his contest with a dragon. A ballad recounting this adventure is given in Percy's Reliques. The dragon in the story is supposed to represent the devil; and Sabra, the king's daughter, whom he rescues from the dragon, represents the church. The twenty-third of April, the date of martyrdom, is called St. George's day. It was at one time the day when new leases and contracts were made. A celebrated painting of St. George and the dragon is preserved in the Hermitage Museum at St. Petersburg. The saint is represented in armor and mounted on a white horse. He is charging the dragon, which, apparently turning to flee, is transfixed by George's spear. George Sand. See Sand ; George
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Georgetown (Former city in the District)
a former city in the District of Columbia, on the Potomac river; since 1878 part of the city of Washington. It is the seat of Georgetown University, a Jesuit institution with a noted astronomical observatory. Georgetown is one of the greatest fishmarkets in the country and has over 50 flour mills. See WASHINGTON (city). GEORGETOWN (formerly the Dutch Stabroek), capital of British Guiana; on the Demerara river, not far from its mouth. It is handsomely built. The principal public edifices are the government building, the cathedral, the Queen's College, and a museum and library. There is a good harbor, with a lighthouse, and defenses erected within recent years; the foreign trade is virtually that of the colony. See GUIANA, BRIT- ISH. Pop. (1918) 54,006.
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Georgetown College
a coeduvational institution in Georgetown, Ky, founded in 1829 under the auspices of the Baptist Church; reported at the close of 1919: Professors and instructors, 20; students, 416; president M. B Adams.
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Georgian Bay
formerly LAKE MANITOULIN, the N.' E. part of Lake Huron, partly separated from the main body of the lake by the peninsula of Cabot's Head and the island of Great Manitoulin. It is about 120 miles long and 50 broad.
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Gera
a town of Germany, capital of the small principality of Reuss- Schleiz, on the White Elster, 42 miles E. by S. of Weimar. Nearly destroyed by fire in 1780, it is for the most part a modern town, with broad and regular streets, but its older buildings building include a castle and a fine town hall. There are over a score of extensive woolen factories, besides cotton works, dyeing and printing works, manufactures of machinery, leather, tobacco, and beer for export, and four publishing houses; eight establish ments, employing 1,500 hands, turn out thousands of melodeons, accordions, and jews'-harps yearly. Pop. (1919) 73,641.
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Gerace
a town of southern Italy, 4 miles from the sea, and 37 N. E. of Reggio. It has a cathedral, rebuilt after the earthquake of 1783, and a trade in wine, especially the esteemed Lacrima di Gerace. There are iron mines and a hot sulphur spring close by, and on a neighboring plain are the ruins of the ancient Locri. Pop. about 11,000.
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Gerard
COMTE ETIENNE MAU- RICE (zhārär), a French marshal; born in Damvillers, Meuse, France, April 4, 1773. Volunteering ring in the army in 1791, he served on the Rhine, in Italy, in the Vendée campaign, in Germany, and in Spain. For his brilliant services at Austerlitz (1805) he was appointed general of brigade; he also took a notable 1806), and part at Jena (1806), Erfurt ( Wagram (1809). During the Russian campaign of 1812 he rendered conspicuous service at the capture of Smolensk in the battle of the Beresina. After Napoleon's return from Elba he commanded a division at Ligny, and was wounded at Wavre. The second restoration compelled him to leave France, and he did not return till 1817. In 1831 he commanded the French army sent to the assistance of the Belgians against the Dutch, whom he drove out of Flanders, and Dec. 27, 1832, compelled the citadel of Antwerp to capitulate. After the July revolution of 1830 he was appointed marshal and war minister by Louis- Philippe; he was again war minister from July to October in 1834. He died in Paris, April 17, 1852.
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Gerard (II)
JAMES WATSON, an American diplomat and lawyer, born in Geneseo, N. Y., 1867. He graduated from the New York Law School in 1892. For four years he was Chairman of the New York Democratic Campaign Committee. JAMES W. GERARD In 1908 he was elected associate justice of the Supreme Court of New York, but resigned in 1913 on being appointed Ambassador to Germany by President Wilson. He became the center of public notice during the first two years of the World War, on account of the skill with which he represented his country in Germany, at a time when the situation between the two governments grew gradually more and more strained. On the break between Germany and the United States, in February, 1917, he was recalled and returned to the United States. He is the author of two books based on his experiences in Berlin, both of which were widely read; "My Four Years in Germany" (1917), and "Face to Face with Kaiserism" (1918).
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Gerasa
in the time of the Romans a flourishing city of Palestine, situated among the mountains of Gilead, about 20 miles E. of the Jordan. Parts of the city wall are still in good preservation; two theaters and several temples can be identified, and 230 columns are still standing.
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Gerbert
By some authorities accredited with the invention of the escapement and the application of the weight as a motive power for clocks. He was born in Belliac, in Auvergne, in 920 A. D. He was educated in a monastery, and served successively as Monk, Bishop, Archbishop and finally as Pope, being better known under the name of Sylvester II. He died May 12, 1003.
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