A Biographical Dictionary of Freethinkers of All Ages and Nations Part 13

Galton (Francis), grandson of Erasmus Darwin, was born in 1822. Educated at Birmingham, he studied medicine at King's College, London, and graduated at Cambridge, '24. In '48 and '50 he travelled in Africa. He wrote a popular Art of Travel, and has distinguished himself by many writings bearing on heredity, of which we name Hereditary Genius, '69, English Men of Science, '70. In his Inquiries into Human Faculty and Developement, '83, he gives statistical refutation of the theory of prayer. Mr. Galton was Secretary of the British a.s.sociation from '63-68, President of the Geographical Section in '62 and '72, and of the Anthropological Section in '77 and '85. He is President of the Anthropological Inst.i.tute.

Gambetta (Leon Michel), French orator and statesman, b. Cahors, 30 Oct. 1838. His uncle was a priest and his father wished him to become one. Educated at a clerical seminary, he decided to study for the law. In '59 he was enrolled at the bar. His defence of Delescluze (14 Nov. 1868), in which he vigorously attacked the Empire, made him famous. Elected to the a.s.sembly by both Paris and Ma.r.s.eilles, he became the life and leader of the Opposition. After Sedan he proclaimed the Republic and organised the national defences, leaving Paris, then invested by the Germans, in a balloon. From Tours he invigorated every department, and was the inspiration of the few successes won by the French. Gambetta preserved the Republic against all machinations, and compelled MacMahon to accept the second of the alternatives, "Se soumettre ou se demettre." He founded the Republique Francaise, and became President of the Chamber. Gambetta was a professed disciple of Voltaire, an admirer of Comte, and an open opponent of clericalism. All the members of his Cabinet were Freethinkers. Died 31 Dec. 1882. His public secular funeral was one of the largest gatherings ever witnessed.

Gambon (Ferdinand Charles), French Communist, b. Bourges, 19 March, 1820. In 1839 he became an Advocate, and he founded the Journal des Ecoles. In '48 he was elected representative. The Empire drove him into exile, he returned at amnesty of '59. In '69 he refused to pay taxes. In '71 was elected deputy at Paris, and was one of the last defenders of the Commune. Imprisoned, he was released in '82. Formed a League for abolis.h.i.+ng standing army. Died 17 Sept. 1887.

Garat (Dominique Joseph), Count, French revolutionist, orator and writer, b. near Bayonne, 8 September, 1749. He became a friend of d'Alembert, Diderot and Condercet, and in 1789 was elected to the a.s.sembly, where he spoke in favor of the abolition of religion. As minister of justice he had to notify to Louis XVI his condemnation. He afterwards taught at the Normal School, and became a senator, count, and president of the Inst.i.tute. Died at Urdains 9 December, 1833.

Garborg (Arne), b. Western Coast of Norway, 25 Jan. 1851. Brought up as a teacher at the public schools, he entered the University of Christiania in 1875. Founded a weekly paper Fedraheimen, written in the dialect of the peasantry. Held an appointment for some years in the Government Audit Office. In '81 he published a powerfully written tale, A Freethinker, which created a deal of attention. Since he has published Peasant Students, Tales and Legends, Youth, Men, etc. He is one of the wittiest and cleverest controversialists on the Norwegian press.

Garcia-Vao (Antonio Rodriguez), Spanish poet and miscellaneous writer, b. Manzanares, 1862. Educated at the inst.i.tute of Cardinal Cisneros, where he made brilliant studies. He afterwards studied at the Madrid University and became a lawyer. After editing several papers, he attached himself to the staff of Las Dominicales del Libre Pensiamento. Among his numerous works are a volume of poems, Echoes of a Free Mind, Love and the Monks, a satire, a study of Greco-Roman philosophy, etc. This promising student was stabbed in the back at Madrid, 18 December, 1886.

Garde (Jehan de la), bookseller, burnt together with four little blasphemous books at Paris in 1537.

Garibaldi (Guiseppe), Italian patriot and general, b. Nice, 4 July, 1807. His father, a small s.h.i.+pmaster, hoped he would become a priest. Young Garibaldi objected, preferring a sailor's life. A trip to Rome made him long to free his country. He joined Mazzini's movement, "Young Italy," and being implicated in the Genoese revolt of '33, he fled at risk of his life to Ma.r.s.eilles, where he learnt he was sentenced to death. He went to South America and fought on behalf of the republic of Uruguay. Here he met Anita Rivera, his beautiful and brave wife, who accompanied him in numerous adventures. Returning to Italy he fought against the Austrians in '48, and next year was the soul of resistance to the French troops, who came to restore Papal authority. Garibaldi had to retire; his wife died, and he escaped with difficulty to Genoa, whence he went to New York, working for an Italian soap and candlemaker at Staten Island. In '54 he returned and bought a farm on the isle of Caprera. In '59 he again fought the Austrians, and in May, '60, landed at Marsala, Sicily, took Palermo, and drove Francis II. from Naples. Though a Republican he saluted Victor Emanuel as King of Italy. Vexed by the cessation of Nice to France, he marched to Rome, but was wounded by Victor Emanuel's troops, and taken prisoner to Varignaro. Here he wrote his Rule of the Monk, a work exhibiting his love of liberty and hatred of the priesthood. In '64 he visited England, and was enthusiastically received. In '67 he again took part in an attempt to free Rome from the Papal government. In '71 he placed his sword at the service of the French Republic, and the only standard taken from the Germans was captured by his men. Elected Member of the Italian Parliament in his later years he did much to improve the city of Rome. In one of his laconic letters of '80, he says "Dear Friend,--Man has created G.o.d, not G.o.d man,--Yours ever, Garibaldi." He died 2 June, '82, and directed in his will that he should be cremated without any religious ceremony.

Garrison (H. D.), Dr. of Chicago. Author of an able pamphlet on The Absence of Design in Nature, 1876.

Garth (Sir Samuel), English poet, wit, and physician, b. Yorks.h.i.+re, 1672, and educated at Cambridge. He helped to establish dispensaries, and lashed the opposition in his poem The Dispensary. He was made physician to King George I. Died 18 June 1719.

Gaston (H.), French author of a brochure with the t.i.tle Dieu, voila, l'ennemi, G.o.d the enemy, 1882.

Gattina (F. P. della). See Petruccelli.

Gautama (called also Gotama, Buddha, and Sakyamuni), great Hindu reformer and founder of Buddhism, b. Kapilavastu, 624 B.C. Many legends are told of his birth and life. He is said to have been a prince, who, pained with human misery, left his home to dedicate himself to emanc.i.p.ation. His system was rather a moral discipline than a religion. Though he did not deny the Hindu G.o.ds he a.s.serted that all beings were subject to "Karma," the result of previous actions. He said, "If a man for a hundred years wors.h.i.+p Agni in the forest, and if he but for one moment pay homage to a man whose soul is grounded in true knowledge, better is that homage than sacrifice for a hundred years." According to Ceylonese writers Gautama Buddha died at Kusinagara, B.C. 543.

Gautier (Theophile), exquisite French poet and prose writer, b. Tarbes, 31 Aug. 1811. He wrote no definite work against priestcraft or superst.i.tion, but the whole tendency of his writings is Pagan. His romanticism is not Christian, and he made merry with "sacred themes"

as well as conventional morality. Baudelaire called him an impeccable master of French literature, and Balzac said that of the two men who could write French, one was Theophile Gautier. Died 22 Oct. 1872.

Geijer (Erik Gustaf), eminent Swedish historian, poet, and critic, b. Wermland, 12 Jan. 1783. At the age of 20 he was awarded the Swedish Academy's first prize for a patriotical poem. At first a Conservative in religious, philosophical, and political matters he became through his historical researches an ardent adherent of the principles of the French revolution. His historical work and indictment against "The Protestant creed" was published in 1820 in a philosophical treatise, Thorild, which was prosecuted. His acquittal by an enlightened jury stayed religious prosecutions in Sweden for over sixty years. He died 23 April 1847. A monument was erected to him last year at the University of Upsala, where he was professor of history. His works have been republished.

Geijerstam (Gustaf), Swedish novelist, b. 1858. Is one of the Freethinking group of Young Sweden.

Geismar (Martin von), editor of a Library of German Rationalists of the eighteenth century, in five parts, including some of the works of Bahrdt, Eberhardt, k.n.o.blauch, etc, 1846-7. He also added pamphlets ent.i.tled Germany in the Eighteenth Century.

Gellion-Danglar (Eugene), French writer, b. Paris, 1829. Became Professor of Languages at Cairo, wrote in La Pensee Nouvelle, was made sous prefect of Compiegne, '71, wrote History of the Revolution of 1830, and A Study of the Semites, '82.

Gemistos (Georgios), surnamed Plethon, a philosophic reviver of Pagan learning, b. of n.o.ble parents at Byzantium about 1355. He early lost his faith in Christianity, and was attracted to the Moslem court at Brusa. He went to Italy in the train of John Palaelogus in 1438, where he attracted much attention to the Platonic philosophy, by which he sought to reform the religious, political and moral life of the time. Gennadius, the patriarch of Constantinople, roundly accused him of Paganism. Died 1450.

Genard (Francois), French satirist, b. Paris about 1722. He wrote an irreligious work called A Parallel of the Portraits of the Age, with the Pictures of the Holy Scriptures, for which he was placed in the Bastille, where it is believed he finished his days.

Gendre (Barbe), Russian writer in French, b. Cronstadt, 15 Dec. 1842. She was well educated at Kief, where she obtained a gold medal. By reading the works of Buchner, Buckle, and Darwin she became a Freethinker. Settling in Paris, she contributed to the Revue Internationale des Sciences, to La Justice and the Nouvelle Revue, etc. Some of her pieces have been reprinted under the t.i.tle Etudes Sociales (Social Studies, Paris, 1886), edited by Dr. C. Letourneau. Died Dec. 1884.

Gener (Pompeyo), Spanish philosopher, b. Barcelona, 1849, is a member of the Society of Anthropology, and author of a study of the evolution of ideas ent.i.tled Death and the Devil, Paris, '80. This able work is dedicated to Renan and has a preface by Littre. The author has since translated it into Spanish.

Genestet (Petrus Augustus de), Dutch poet and Agnostic, b. Amsterdam, 21 Nov. 1829. He studied theology, and for some years was a Protestant minister. His verses show him to be a Freethinker. Died at Rozendaal, 2 July, 1861.

Genin (Francois), French philologist, b. Amiens, 16 Feb. 1803. He became one of the editors of the National, of Paris, about '37, and wrote for it spirited articles against the Jesuits. He published works on The Jesuits and the Universities, The Church or the State, etc. In '45 the French Academy awarded a prize to his Lexicon of the Language of Moliere. He edited Diderot, '47, and is known for his researches into the origin of the French language and literature. Died Paris, 20 Dec. 1856.

Genovesi (Antonio), Italian philosopher, b. Castiglione, 1 Nov. 1712. He read lectures in philosophy at Naples, but by his subst.i.tution of doubt for traditional belief he drew upon himself many attacks from the clergy. The book by which he is best known is his Italian Morality. Died at Naples, 20 Sept. 1769.

Gensonne (Armand), French lawyer and one of the leaders of the Girondists, b. Bordeaux, 10 Aug. 1758. He was elected to the Legislative a.s.sembly in 1791, and to the Convention in 1792. In the struggle with the Jacobins, Gensonne was one of the most active and eloquent champions of his party. He was executed with his colleagues 31 Oct. 1793.

Gentilis (Giovanni Valentino), Italian heretic, b. Consenza, Naples, about 1520. He fled to avoid persecution to Geneva, where in 1558 he was thrown into prison at the instigation of Calvin. Fear of sharing the fate of Servetus made him recant. He wandered to Poland, where he joined Alciati and Biandrata, but he was banished for his innovations. Upon the death of Calvin he returned to Switzerland, where he was arrested for heresy, 11 June, 1566. After a long trial he was condemned for attacking the Trinity, and beheaded at Berne, 26 (?) Sept. 1566. Ladvocat says "He died very impiously, saying he thought himself honored in being martyred for the glory of the Father, whereas the apostles and other martyrs only died for the glory of the Son."

Geoffrin (Marie Therese, nee Rodet), a French lady distinguished as a patroness of learning and the fine arts, b. Paris, 2 June, 1699. She was a friend of Alembert, Voltaire, Marmontel, Montesquieu, Diderot, and the encyclopaedists, and was noted for her benevolence. Died at Paris, 6 Oct. 1777.

Gerhard (H.), Dutch socialist, b. Delft, 11 June, 1829. Educated at an orphanage he became a tailor, travelled through France, Italy, and Switzerland, and in '61 returned to Amsterdam. He wrote for De Dageraad, and was correspondent of the Internationale. Died 5 July, 1886.

Gerhard (A. H.), son of foregoing, b. Lausanne, Switzerland, 7 April, 1858. Is headmaster of a public school, and one of the editors of De Dageraad.

Germond (J. B. L.), editor of Marechal's Dictionnaire des Athees, Brussels, 1833.

Gertsen (Aleksandr Ivanovich). See Herzen.

Ghillany (Friedrich Wilhelm), German critic, b. at Erlangan, 18 April, 1807. In '35 he became Professor of History at Nurenberg. His princ.i.p.al work is on Human Sacrifices among the Ancient Jews, Nurnberg, '42. He also wrote on the Pagan and Christian writers of the first four centuries. Under the pseudonym of "Richard von der Alm" he wrote Theological Letters, 1862; Jesus of Nazareth, 1868; and a collection of the opinions of heathen and Jewish writers of the first four centuries upon Jesus and Christianity. Died 25 June, 1876.

Giannone (Pietro), Italian historian, b. Ischitella, Naples, 7 May, 1676. He devoted many years to a History of the Kingdom of Naples, in which he attacked the papal power. He was excommunicated and fled to Vienna, where he received a pension from the Emperor, which was removed on his avowal of heterodox opinions. He was driven from Austria and took refuge in Venice: here also was an Inquisition. Giannone was seized by night and cast before sunrise on the papal sh.o.r.e. He found means, however, of escaping to Geneva. Having been enticed into Savoy in 1736, he was arrested by order of the King of Sardinia, and confined in prison until his death, 7 March, 1748.

Gibbon (Edward), probably the greatest of historians, b. Putney, 27 April 1737. At Oxford be became a Romanist, but being sent to a Calvinist at Lausanne, was brought back to Protestantism. When visiting the ruins of the Capitol at Rome, he conceived the idea of writing the Decline and Fall of that empire. For twenty-two years before the appearance of his first volume he was a prodigy of arduous application, his investigations extending over the whole range of intellectual and political activity for nearly fifteen hundred years. His monumental work, bridging the old world and the new, is an historic exposure of the crimes and futility of Christianity. Gibbon was elected to Parliament in '74, but did not distinguish himself. He died of dropsy, in London, 16 Jan. 1794.

Gibson (Ellen Elvira), American lecturess, b. Winchenden, Ma.s.s. 8 May, 1821, and became a public school teacher. Study of the Bible brought her to the Freethought platform. At the outbreak of the American Civil War she organised Ladies' Soldiers' Aid Societies, and was elected chaplain to the 1st Wisconsin Volunteer Artillery. President Lincoln endorsed the appointment, which was questioned. She has written anonymously G.o.dly Women of the Bible, and has contributed to the Truthseeker, Boston Investigator, and Ironclad Age, under her own signature and that of "Lilian."

Giessenburg (Rudolf Charles d'Ablaing van), one of the most notable of Dutch Freethinkers, b. of n.o.ble family, 26 April, 1826. An unbeliever in youth, in '47 he went to Batavia, and upon his return set up as a bookseller under the name of R. C. Meijer. With Junghuhn and Gunst, he started de Dageraad, and from '56-68 was one of the contributors, usually under his name "Rudolf Charles." He is a man of great erudition, has written Het verbond der vrije gedachte (The Alliance of Freethought); de Tydgenoot op het gebied der Rede (The Contemporary in the Field of Reason); De Regtbank des Onderzoeks (The Tribunal of Inquiry); Zedekunde en Christendom (Ethics and Christianity); Curiositeiten van allerlei aard (Curiosities of Various Kinds). He has also published the Religion and Philosophy of the Bible by W. J. Birch and Brooksbank's work on Revelation. He was the first who published a complete edition of the famous Testament du Cure Jean Meslier in three parts ('64), has published the works of Douwes Dekker and other writers, and also Curieuse Gebruiken.

Gilbert (Claude), French advocate, b. Dijon, 7 June, 1652. He had printed at Dijon, in 1700, Histoire de Calejava, ou de l'isle des hommes raisonables, avec le paralelle de leur Morale et du Christianisme. The book has neither the name of author or printer. It was suppressed, and only one copy escaped destruction, which was bought in 1784 by the Duc de La Valliere for 120 livres. It was in form of a dialogue (329 pp.), and attacked both Judaism and Christianity. Gilbert married in 1700, and died at Dijon 18 Feb. 1720.

Gill (Charles), b. Dublin, 8 Oct. 1824, was educated at the University of that city. In '83 he published anonymously a work on The Evolution of Christianity. It was quoted by Mr. Foote in his defences before Judge North and Lord Coleridge, and in the following year he put his name to a second edition. Mr. Gill has also written a pamphlet on the Blasphemy Laws, and has edited, with an introduction, Archbishop Laurence's Book of Enoch, 1883.

Giles (Rev. John Allen, D.Ph.), b. Mark, Somersets.h.i.+re, 26 Oct. 1808. Educated at the Charterhouse and Oxford, where he graduated B.A. as a double first-cla.s.s in '28. He was appointed head-master of the City of London School, which post he left for the Church. The author of over 150 volumes of educational works, including the Keys to the Cla.s.sics; privately he was a confirmed Freethinker, intimate with Birch, Scott, etc. His works bearing on theology show his heresy, the princ.i.p.al being Hebrew Records 1850, Christian Records 1854. These two were published together in amended form in 1877. He also wrote Codex Apocryphus Novi Testamenti 1852, Writings of the Early Christians of the Second Century 1857, and Apostolic Records, published posthumously in 1886. Died 24 Sept 1884.

Ginguene (Pierre Louis), French historian b. Rennes, 25 April, 1748. Educated, with Parny, by Jesuits. At Paris he became a teacher, embraced the Revolution, wrote on Rousseau and Rabelais, and collaborated with Chamfort in the Historic Pictures of the French Revolution. Thrown into prison during the Terror, he escaped on the fall of Robespierre, and became Director of Public Instruction. His princ.i.p.al work is a Literary History of Italy. Died Paris, 11 Nov. 1816.

Gilliland (M. S.) Miss, b. Londonderry 1853, auth.o.r.ess of a little work on The Future of Morality, from the Agnostic standpoint, 1888.

Gioja (Melchiorre), Italian political economist, b. Piazenza, 20 Sept. 1767. He advocated republicanism, and was appointed head of a bureau of statistics. For his brochure La Scienza del Povero Diavolo he was expelled from Italy in 1809. He published works on Merit and Rewards and The Philosophy of Statistics. Died at Milan 2 Jan. 1829.

Girard (Stephen), American philanthropist, b. near Bordeaux France, 24 May, 1750. He sailed as cabin boy to the West Indies about 1760; rose to be master of a coasting vessel and earned enough to settle in business in Philadelphia in 1769. He became one of the richest merchants in America, and during the war of 1812 he took the whole of a Government loan of five million dollars. He called his vessels after the names of the philosophers Helvetius, Montesquieu, Voltaire, Rousseau, etc. He contributed liberally to all public improvements and radical movements. On his death he left large bequests to Philadelphia, the princ.i.p.al being a munificent endowment of a college for orphans. By a provision of his will, no ecclesiastic or minister of any sect whatever is to hold any connection with the college, or even be admitted to the premises as a visitor; but the officers of the inst.i.tution are required to instruct the pupils in secular morality and leave them to adopt their own religious opinions. This will has been most shamefully perverted. Died Philadelphia, 26 Dec. 1831.

Glain (D. de Saint). See Saint Glain.

Glennie (John Stuart Stuart), living English barrister and writer, author of In the Morningland, or the law of the origin and transformation of Christianity, 1873, the most important chapter of which was reprinted by Thomas Scott, under the t.i.tle, Christ and Osiris. He has also written Pilgrim Memories, or travel and discussion in the birth-countries of Christianity with the late H. T. Buckle, 1875.

Glisson (Francis), English anatomist and physician, b. Rampisham, Dorsets.h.i.+re, 1597. He took his degree at Cambridge, and was there appointed Regius Professor of Physic, an office he held forty years. He discovered Glisson's capsule in the liver, and was the first to attribute irritability to muscular fibre. In his Tractatus de natura substantiae energetica, 1672, he antic.i.p.ates the natural school in considering matter endowed with native energy sufficient to account for the operations of nature. Dr. Glisson was eulogised by Harvey, and Boerhaave called him "the most accurate of all anatomists that ever lived." Died in 1677.

G.o.dwin (Mary). See Wollstonecraft.

G.o.dwin (William), English historian, political writer and novelist, b. Wisbeach, Cambridges.h.i.+re, 3 March, 1756. The son of a Dissenting minister, he was designed for the same calling. He studied at Hoxton College, and came out, as he entered, a Tory and Calvinist; but making the acquaintance of Holcroft, Paine, and the English Jacobins, his views developed from the Unitarianism of Priestley to the rejection of the supernatural. In '93 he published his republican work on Political Justice. In the following year he issued his powerful novel of Caleb Williams. He married Mary Wollstonecraft, '96; wrote, in addition to several novels and educational works, On Population, in answer to Malthus, 1820; a History of the Commonwealth, '24-28; Thoughts on Man, '31; Lives of the Necromancers, '34. Some Freethought essays, which he had intended to form into a book ent.i.tled The Genius of Christianity Unveiled, were first published in '73. They comprise papers on such subjects as future retribution, the atonement, miracles, and character of Jesus, and the history and effects of the Christian religion. Died 7 April, 1836.