AGRIC'OLA, GNAEUS or CNEIUS JULIUS, a Roman of the imperial times distinguished not less by his great abilities as a statesman and a soldier than by the beauty of his private character, was born at Forum Julii (now Frejus in Provence), 37 A.D. Having served with distinction in Britain, Asia, and Aquitania, and gone through the round of civil offices, he was, in 77 A.D., elected consul, and in the following year proceeded as governor to Britain—the scene of his military and civil administration during the next seven years. He was the first Roman general who effectually subdued the island, and the only one who displayed as much genius and success in training the inhabitants to the amenities of civilization as in breaking their rude force in war. In his seventh and last campaign (44 A.D.), his decisive victory over the Caledonians under Galgacus, at a place called Mans Graupius, established the lioman dominion in Britain to some distance n. of the Forth.
After this campaign, his fleet circumnavigated the coast, for the first time, discovering Britain to be an island. Among the works executed by A. during his administration were a chain of forts between the Solway and the Tyne, and another between the Clyde and Forth. Numerous traces of his operations are still to be found in Anglesey and N. Wales, and in Galloway, Fife, Perthshire and Angus. The news of A.'s successes inflamed the jealousy of Dcmitian, and he was speedily recalled. Thenceforth he lived in retirement; and when the vacant proconsulships of Asia and Africa lay within his choice, he prudently declined promotion.- The jealousy of the emperor, however, is supposed to have hastened his death, which took place at the early age of 55. His life, by his son-in-law, Taeitus, has always been regarded as one of the choicest specimens of biography in literature.