AGRICOLA, GEORGE, was born at Glauchen, in Upper Saxony, 24th March, 1494. He received the medical part of his education in Italy, and, returning to his native country, settled as a physician at Joachimsted. He afterwards accompanied the dukes Maurice and Augustus in their march to join the army of Charles V. in Bohemia; and it is probable, that he there contracted that ardent desire of examining fossils, which remained with him through life, and laid the foundation of his future greatness. After his return from Bohemia, he continued to prosecute his favourite study with increas ing ardour, till it became at length the sole object of his attention. Regardless of interest, he relinquished his profession ; and having removed to Chemnitz, he began, at his own expense, those interesting and suc cessful experiments, which so eminently advanced the science of mineralogy. He published the result of his labours in several elegant treatises, remarkable for the case and simplicity of their diction, and more particu larly for that vivacity of expression, so pleasing in the page of experimental philosophy. Although lie had
lived for many years among Lutherans, he still remain ed faithful to the Papal religion. In his latter days, he is said to have attacked the Protestants with considera ble severity, which very much exasperated his towns men, the Lutherans ; and to such an unreasonable length did they carry this hatred against him, that, on his death, which happened at Chemnitz on the 21st November, 1555, they denied his body the last office of humanity, and suffered it to lie for several days unburied ; a striking example of that blind and superstitious bigotry, which has too frequently disgraced the annals of Chris tianity. It was at length found necessary to remove it to Zeits, where it received an honourable interment in the principal church. (v)