AGRICOLA, GN.EUS JULIUS ( 37-92 ) . 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 charac ter. He was born at Forum .Julii (now FrOjus, in Provence). Having served with distinction in Britain. Asia, and .A.quitania, 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 gen eral who effectually subdued the island. and the only one who displayed as much genius and suc cess in training the inhabitants to the amenities of civilization as in breaking their rude force in war. In his seventh and last campaign (84 A.D.), his decisive victory over the Caledonians under Calgacus.at a place called Mons Grampius, established the Roman dominion in Britain to some distance north of the Forth. After this campaign his fleet circumnavigated the coast for the first time, proving Britain to be an island.
Among the works executed by Agricola during his administration were a chain of forts between the Solway Firth and the Tyne, and another between the firths of Clyde and Forth. Numer ous traces of his operations are still to be found in Anglesey and North Wales, and in Galloway. Fife, Perthshire, and Forfarshire. The news of Agrieola's successes inflamed the jealousy of the Emperor Domitian. and lie was speedily recalled. Thenceforth he lived in retirement, and when the vacant proeonsulships of Asia and Africa lay within his choice, he prudently declined pro motion. The jealousy of the Emperor, is supposed to have hastened his death, which took place at the early age of fifty-five. His Life, by his son-in-law, Tacitus, has always been regarded as one of the choicest specimens of bi ography in literature. See TACITUS.