GREENOCK (63), a flourishing seaport of Renfrewshire, on the Firth of Clyde, 22 m.  W. of Glasgow; it stretches some 4 m. along the shore and climbs the hill slopes behind, whence it commands a splendid view of the river and Highlands beyond; the west end is handsomely laid out, and contains some fine buildings, including the Watt Institute, with library of 130,000 vols.; the harbourage is excellent, and favours a large foreign shipping trade; the staple industries are shipbuilding, engineering, spinning, sugar-refining, &c.; coal and iron are the chief exports, and sugar and timber the largest imports.

GREENOUGH, HORATIO, an American sculptor, spent most of his life in Rome and Florence; executed the colossal statue of Washington in front of the Capitol in Washington City, and a group of figures entitled “The Rescue” (1803-1852).

GREENWICH (78), an important borough of Kent (officially within the county of London), on the Thames, 5 m.  SE. of London Bridge; its active industries embrace engineering, telegraph works, chemical works, &c.; the Royal Observatory, founded by Charles II. in 1675, occupies a commanding site within the Park; it is from this point that degrees of longitude with us are reckoned.

GREENWICH HOSPITAL, founded in 1694 by Queen Mary after designs by Christopher Wren, was from 1705 till 1869 an asylum for disabled sailors; since then the funds, amounting to L167,259 a year, have been distributed in pensions and also utilised for the upkeep of Greenwich Hospital Schools (where 1000 children of seamen receive board and education); since 1873 this hospital has served as the college for the Royal Navy.

GREENWOOD, FREDERICK, publicist and journalist; editor of Cornhill Magazine, author of Life of Napoleon III., “Lover’s Lexicon,” and “Dreams”; b. 1830.

GREG, WILLIAM RATHBONE, literary and political essayist, born in Manchester; in 1856 became a Commissioner of Customs, and from 1864 till his resignation in 1877 acted as Controller of H.M.  Stationery Office; his works embrace “The Creed of Christendom,” “Enigmas of Life,” “Political Problems,” &c., and are marked by vigorous thought couched in a lucid, incisive style; was from his evil prognostications designated Cassandra Greg (1809-1881).

GREGOIRE, HENRI, bishop of Blois, born at Veho, near Luneville, one of the clerical deputies to the States-General of 1789; attached himself to the Tiers-etat, was a member of the National Convention, and a staunch advocate for civil and religious liberty, but refused resolutely to follow “Goose Gobel,” the archbishop of Paris, and renounce the Christian religion and deny his Master (1750-1831).  See CARLYLE’S “FRENCH REVOLUTION.”

GREGORIAN CALENDAR, the regulation of the year according to the correction introduced by Gregory XIII. in 1582 of the Julian calendar, which allowed the year 11 minutes and 10 seconds too much.

GREGORIAN YEAR, the civil year according to the correction of the Gregorian calendar.