Page:Imperial Dictionary of Universal Biography Volume 1.pdf/72

AGO His historical, critical, and poetical contributions to various journals, were published at Paris in 1835.  AGOULT,, a knight of Provence, famous as "a good poet and a tender lover." He wrote several songs and poems, and a satire on the decay of virtue, and the vices of the clergy. He died in 1181, and it was said of him—"he was a model of sanctity and virtue, the father and chief of all the troubadours."  * AGOULT,, Countess of, born about 1800 at Frankfort, educated in France, married to Count Agoult in 1827, afterwards paid frequent visits to Italy and other parts, and, since 1840, has contributed many clever literary and political productions to Paris newspapers and periodicals.  AGRATE,, a Milanese sculptor, flourishing about 1500. He was employed in the works at the Certosa of Pavia, and executed several statues for the cathedral of Milan; amongst others that of St. Bartholomew, displaying a considerable amount of anatomical knowledge, derived from having seen the examples of the great Leonardo da Vinci. The fame attached to this statue is, however, but little deserved, and only to be attributed to the strange impression which an anatomical figure produces upon the ignorant masses.—R. M.  AGRE´DA, (Coronela), abbess of a convent at Agreda in Spain, where she was born in 1602, and died in 1665. She wrote, as a record of pretended visions, a "Life of the Holy Virgin," translated into French by father Crozet, gravely condemned by the doctors of the Sorbonne, and denounced as preposterous and indecent by Bossuet.  AGRESTI,, an Italian historical painter, born at Forli in the beginning of the sixteenth century. He studied with great success under Pierin del Vaga, whom he surpassed in imitating Giulio Romano's style. Worked at Rome and in Germany. Died about 1580.—R. M.  AGRICIUS,, a celebrated professor of eloquence and literature at Bordeaux, in the fourth century, author of a work on Latin synonyms.  AGRI´COLA,, an able and enlightened Roman general and statesman, and one of the most virtuous and amiable characters of heathen antiquity, was born. 37 at Forum Julii, a Roman colony (now Frejus in Provence); and studied literature, philosophy, and jurisprudence, in the Grecian city of Massilia (Marseilles), long the Athens of the west. His father, Julius Græcinus, a Roman senator and a distinguished orator, was put to death by Caligula, for refusing to conduct a calumnious prosecution against Silanus, the tyrant's father-in-law, but intended victim. His mother, Julia Procilla, a matron of great talents and primitive virtues, superintended with care and success the early education of her orphan son. He served his military noviciate in Britain, under Suetonius Paulinus, a commander of eminent capacity and great experience. Returning to the capital in 62, he married Domitia Decidiana, a lady belonging to one of the most illustrious families of Rome. In 63 he was chosen quæstor, or treasurer, for what was then called the province of Asia; and his scrupulous integrity in that capacity formed a striking contrast to the usual rapacity of Roman functionaries of that period. Towards the end of Nero's reign, he held successively the nearly nominal offices of tribune of the people and prætor. Under Vespasian he was appointed to the command of a legion in Britain. On his return in 73 he was raised to the rank of patrician, and made governor of Aquitania. He was continued in the administration of that province nearly three years, and by his justice, wisdom, and courtesy endeared himself to the inhabitants. After being honoured with the consulship, he was appointed in 78 governor of Britain, where he now remained till 85, when Domitian, envious of his renown, recalled him, under pretext of conferring on him another appointment, which, by indirect hints, that tyrant prompted Agricola formally to decline. Agricola's brilliant achievements, while commander-in-chief in Britain; his conquest of North Wales and Anglesey; his erecting a line of forts between the Clyde and the Forth; his circumnavigation of Britain; his defeating, in a great battle at the foot of the Grampians, the Caledonians under Galgacus; his success in introducing among the subjugated Britons a taste for Roman civilization and the Latin language; his preparations for the conquest of Ireland;—are all well known. After his recall, he spent the remainder of his life in retirement. He died in 93, generally supposed to have been secretly poisoned at the instigation of Domitian. His life, written by his son-in-law, Tacitus the great historian, is a masterpiece of biography.—E. M. <section end="72H" /> <section begin="72I" />AGRI´COLA,, a German painter, born at Regensburg in 1667. He executed a large number of landscapes, enlivened with figures. Several of his works are now in the galleries of Vienna, Dresden, and Florence. He travelled a great deal, continually studying from nature. He died at Vienna in 1719.—R. M. <section end="72I" /> <section begin="72J" />AGRI´COLA,, a German ecclesiastic of considerable theological learning, a vehement opponent of the Reformation, and author of numerous Latin dissertations in support of the claims of the church of Rome, was born at Lunen, near Aldenhoven, and died at Siltard in 1621. <section end="72J" /> <section begin="72K" />AGRI´COLA,, was born at Glaucha in Saxony, or at Chemnitz (it is not certain which), 24th March, 1494. From his connection with Chemnitz, he obtained the name of Kempnicius. His real name was, the Latin translation being Agricola (agriculturist). He studied medicine, and began the practice of his profession at Joachimstadt, to satisfy his friends. But, from the love which he had in his youth acquired for minerals in the mountains of Bohemia, he continued to make these his predominating study; and, giving up his medical pursuits, he repaired to Chemnitz, where he became entirely absorbed in the pursuit of metals and mining. Judging from his work "De re Metallica," he seems to have acquired a large amount of practical knowledge, by visiting the mines, studying the processes, and making himself completely master of their details. But he was likewise a man of learning, as he was thoroughly imbued with the knowledge which the ancients—Pliny, Dioscorides, Galen, and Strabo, &c., had left on such subjects. He collected likewise specimens of different ores, studied their chemical characters, and described them with great accuracy. He was allowed a pension by Maurice, duke of Saxony, at the instance of G. Cammerstadt, a scientific friend; but this he spent in the pursuit of metallurgic knowledge, as well as part of his own estate. Latterly, he became in some measure involved in theological disputes, in consequence of his views, which were at one time favourable to protestantism, having turned to his original catholic principles. He died at Chemnitz, 15th Nov., 1555; and so strong were the theological prejudices of the time, that the Lutherans, annoyed at his opposition to their doctrines, allowed his body to remain five days unburied, so that it was obliged to be carried from Chemnitz to Zeitz, in the principal church of which place it was interred. He enjoyed the friendship of Erasmus, George Fabricius, Wolfgang Meurer, Valerius Cordus, John Dryander. The most important work of Agricola is his book "De re Metallica," first published in 1546. It is divided into twelve books. In the first of these he discusses the nature of the education of the metallurgist; in the second, third, fourth, and fifth books, he treats of the nature and history of metallic veins, &c.; in the sixth, of mining machines; in the seventh, of the assay of ores; in the eighth, of the treatment of ores; in the ninth, of the reduction of ores in furnaces; in the tenth, of the refining of metals, especially gold and silver; in the eleventh, of the separation of silver from other metals; in the twelfth, and last book, he relates the method of preparing various salts, as common salt, saltpetre, alum, and sulphate of iron, the mode of preparing and purifying sulphur, and of making glass. The work is, upon the whole, a most remarkable one, and exhibits, considering the times, much talent and accuracy. Such a work was an admirable starting-point, and no doubt contributed to preserve many subsequent inquirers on the right road, instead of wasting their time in the vain speculations so prevalent in that age. His language, too, is more than usually correct, and free from the barbarous terms so much In fashion at the time. His book, "De Animantibus Subterraneis (1549)," contains an account of the demons of the mines, as well as of certain animals. In "De Ortu et Causis Subterraneorum (1546)," we find a description of some curious facts connected with volcanic action. In "De Natura coram quæ Effluent ex Terra (1558)," is contained an account of sea shells and mineral waters, &c., and of caverns yielding various exhalations. He wrote other three works, entitled "De Natura Fossilium;" "De Veteribus et Novis Metallis" (1530); and "Bermannus" (1530), a dialogue with the purity of style of the Colloquies of Erasmus. He wrote also several other works on miscellaneous subjects.—R. D. T. <section end="72K" /> <section begin="72Lnop" />AGRI´COLA,, a physician and naturalist, was born at Ratisbon in 1672, and died in 1738. He prosecuted botanical studies, and devoted himself particularly to the multiplication of plants by cuttings and by grafting. <section end="72Lnop" />