Page:Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography (1900, volume 2).djvu/695

Rh cies were to be paid, together with a plot of ground in Philadelphia, for the erection and support of a college for orphans. About one third of the will is taken up with prescribing the details of its con- struction and management, and Girard even goes so far as to dictate the thickness of the marble slabs on the roof, the exact dimensions of the building and its rooms, and the style of the gates leading to the grounds. His object seems to have been to make it certain that a fire-proof, substan- tial edifice should be built, in his own words, " avoiding needless ornament, and attending chief- ly to the strength, convenience, and neatness of the whole." The principal building of the col- lege, which was begun in July, 18'SS, and opened 1 Jan., 1848, is a magnificent specimen of Greek architecture, in the form of a temple, surrounded by thirty-four elaborate Corinthian columns, and costing, with the accompanying buildings, very nearly $3,000,000. It has been doubted whether Mr. Girard intended that any such structure should be erected. It is in many respects not well adapted to its uses, though the minute directions of the founder, who was not a practical architect, are, in some cases, responsible for these defects. As many poor white male orphans as the endow- ment can support are admitted between the ages of six and ten years, fed, clothed, and educated, and between the ages of fourteen and eighteen are bound out to mechanical, agricultural, or commer- cial occupations. The officers consist of a presi- dent, secretary, two professors, five male and five female teachers, a physician, a matron, a steward, and a superintendent of manual labor ; and there are about 500 beneficiaries. By a provision of the will of the founder no ecclesiastic, missionary, or minister of any sect whatever, is to hold any con- nection with the college, or be admitted to the premises even as a visitor. The object of this, in Girard's words, is " to keep the tender minds of the orphans who are to derive advantage from this bequest free from the excitement which clashing doctrines and sectarian controversy are so apt to produce," leaving them free to choose on their en- trance into active life " such religious tenets as their matured reason may enable them to prefer." See " Life of Stephen Girard," by Stephen Simpson (Philadeli)hias 1832), and "Girard College and its Founder," by Henry W. Arey (1800).

GIRARDIN, Louis Hue, educator. He was appointed professor of modern languages in Will- iam and Mary in 1803, and conducted a select school for girls in Richmond, Va., for several years. He completed vol. iv. of Burk's " History of Vir- ginia," and in 1805 issued the prospectus of a monthly magazine entitled " Amcenitates Graphi- cae, an Instructive and Amusing Collection of Vines, Animals, Plants, Flowers, Minerals, An- tiquities, Customs, and Other Interesting Objects. Selected and engraved from Drawings after Na- ture, with Descriptive and Explanatory Sketches in English and French. The Text by L. H. Girar- din. Professor of Modei'n Languages, History, and Geography in William and Mary College. The En- gravings by Frederick Bosler." The first number (the only one issued) contained six fine plates, col- ored by hand. In 1809 he published a long Latin poem, entitled " Maiomachia, sive Duello," in " The Visitor," a Richmond pei'iodical.

GIRON, Francisco Hernandez (hee-ron), Spanish soldier, b. in Caceres, Spain, about 1500; d. in Lima, Peru, 7 Dec, 1554. He joined an ex- pedition for Veragua in 1535, and later went to Quito, where he served under Aldana and afterward became rich, but used his high reputation among the Spanish conquerors to excite them to revolt, as he was dissatisfied with his share of the spoils after the defeat of Gonzalo Pizarro, 9 April, 1548. Hav- ing been commissioned to reduce the province of Charcas to subjection in 1553, he levied troops at Cuzco, and then raised the standard of rebellion, drawing to his side all the Spaniards who had be- longed to the factions of Almagro and Pizarro. After arresting the governor of Cuzco he took pos- session of the government, and in a battle near Chuquinga. 20 May, gained a complete victory, from which, however, he did not reap any advan- tage. He was attacked in turn by the royalists, and defeated at Pucara, 8 Oct., 1554. Having been aban- doned by his troops, he fled to the mountains, but was captured, and executed at Lima. The rebellion he headed was the last that was instigated by the conquerors of Peru against the Spanish crown.

GIROUARD, Desire, Canadian author, b. in St. Tiinothe, Beauharnois co., Quebec, 7 July, 1836. He was educated at Montreal college, and was graduated in law in McGill university, from which he received the degrees of B. C. L. and D. C. L. He was admitted to tlie Lower Canada bar in October, 1860, and from that time until 1872 devoted him- self to his profession, in which he attained success as a commercial lawyer. In the latter year he was elected to the Canadian parliament for Jacques Cartier, but was defeated for Beauharnois in 1874. He was re-elected for Jacques Cartier in 1874, and again in 1882. During the session of 1882 he pro- moted and carried through the bill authorizing marriage with a deceased wife's sister. He is a Conservative, and a strong supporter of the policy of Sir John A. Macdonald, and of the late Sir George E. Cartiers. He founded, with W. H. Kerr and others, the " Revue critique," and is the au- thor of " Treatise on Bills of Exchange," the " In- solvent Act," and " Laws of Marriage." He is well known by his contributions on constitutional law and international questions, both on this con- tinent and in Europe.

GIROUARD, John Joseph, Canadian patriot, b. in Quebec, Canada, 11 Nov., 1795 ; d. in Canada, 18 Sept., 1855. He was left an orphan at an early age, and entirely destitute, but was educated by the Abbe Gatien. He followed his benefactor to St. Eustache, and after the latter's death began to study law at St. Genevieve in 1812. He was ad- mitted to practice at the former place in 1816, and established himself at St. Benoit, where he mar- ried. He took an energetic part in the discussions between the Canadian governor and the chamber of assembly, and in 1830 was elected to represent the county of Deux-Montagnes. He devoted him- self principally to municipal and educational ques- tions, but voted with the patriots in favor of the ninety-two resolutions, the refusal of subsidies, and all the laws that aimed at enforcing the rights of the chamber. When the English government au- thorized Lord Gosford to take what money he needed from the public treasury, Girouard ad- dressed meetings in several counties of the prov- ince of Quebec in opposition to this violation of the prerogatives of the legislature, but still depre- cated a resort to physical force. When the insur- rection began he took command of the insurgents who were encamped at St. Benoit, but, seeing that resistance was impossible after the fight at St. Eustache, 14 Nov., 1837, he advised his com- panions to disperse. He then set out for the United States, but afterward surrendered himself, and was taken to Montreal, where he remained in prison for six months. In 1838 Lord Durham, the new gov- ernor-general, offered to allow the leaders of the