GROSSETESTE, groSSt, BORERT (e.1175 1253). A celebrated English prelate. He was born in Suffolk, studied at Oxford and Paris, and, after returning to England, gained great reputation as a divine. He was the first rec tor of the Franciscan school at Oxford (1224). In 1235 he was elected Bishop of Lincoln, and set himself in most vigorous fashion to re form all abuses in his diocese. He was a man of great energy and strong character, but high-tempered and undiplomatic, and became involved in numerous controversies. One of the most famous was with no less a personage than Pope Innocent IV. himself. It was not unusual at the time for the Pope to appoint foreigners to vacant benefices in England, many of whom drew their revenues, but never came to the coun try. Grosseteste set himself against this abuse, and in 1253 with great firmness refused to in duct the Pope's nephew, an Italian youth, into the first canonry that should be vacant in the cathedral of Lincoln. He died October 9, 1253.
Grosseteste was a friend of Simon de Montfort (q.v.). and a constitutionalist in politics. His learning was prodigious. Latin, Greek, Hebrew, French, mathematics, medicine, and music were among his attainments, and his knowledge of Scripture is particularly lauded. His influence on English life and thought lasted long beyond his time. He was a most voluminous writer. For his life, consult: Pegge (London, 1793), which contains a list of his works filling twenty eight closely printed , quarto pages; Brewer, Monurnenta Franciscana (lb., 1858) ; Luard (editor), Roberti Grosseteste Episcopi quondam Lincolniensis Epistolce, "Rolls Series" (1862) ; Perry (London, 1871) ; Stevenson (London, 1899).