GREENE. 248 GREENFINCH. "Great Commanders Series"; and G. VV. Greene, The Life of Xatltanucl Greene (3 vols., New York, 1867-71). GREENE, Nathaniel (1797-1877). An Ameri- can journalist, brother of Cliarles Gordon Greene. He was bora in Biiscawen, X. H., became an ap- prentice in the olhce of the Xeic Hainpsliire Pa- triot in 1809, and in 1812 edited the Concord Gazette. After conducting several other local papers he founded in 1821 the Boston Statesman, a prominent Democratic organ. He was for fif- teen years postmaster of Boston, and published several translations from the Italian, German, and French. GREENE, Robert (c.1560-92). An English poet and dramatist, born at Norwich. He was placed at Saint John's College. Cambridge, where he graduated B.A. in 1578. He then traveled in Spain and Italy. On his rettirn he reentered tlie university, and took the degree of M.A. at Clare Hall in 1583. He was also incorporated at Ox- ford in 1588. Soon after leaving Cambridge he proceeded to London, where he supported himself by his pen. He died of a debauch September 3, 1592. As a dramatist, Greene was one of the precursors of Shakespeare. Of his five plays, the best known is The Famous Eistory of Friar Bacon (performed in 1592, and undoubtedly ear- lier). In this play a story of necromancy is fused with a tender idyl. The romance Pandosto (1588) contributed incidents to Shakespeare's Winter's Tale. Menaphon (1589), containing nmch beautiful verse, is one of the best of the Elizabethan romances. Greene wrote many pam- phlets, of which .4. Oroatsicorth of Wit Bouriht uith a iliUion of Repentance (published just after his death, 1592) was immensely popular for fifty years It contains the first undoubted allusion to Shakespeare after he came to Lon- don. Though Greene's life was dissipated, his writings are singularly pure. Consult : Complete Wcrrks, edited by Grosart for the Huth Library (15 vols.. London. 1881-86) ; and Plaiis and Poems, edited by Collins (New York, 1902). GREENE, Samuel Daxa (1S40-84). An American naval officer, born in Cumberland, Md. In 1859 he gi-aduated at the United States Naval Academy as a midshipman, and two years later became a lieutenant. During the battle between the Monitor and the Merrimac, March 9, 1862, he had charge of the Monitor's gims, and com- manded the Union vessel after the disabling of Lieutenant Worden (q.v. ). He served through- out the war on various vessels: was assistant professor of mathematics at the Naval Academy from 1866 to 1868. and of astronomy from 1871 to 1875: was promoted to be commander in 1872: and acted as assistant stiperintendent of the institution from 1878 to 1882. GREENE, William Batchelder (1819-781. An American author son of Nathaniel Greene (1797-1877). He was born in Haverhill. Mass., studied at West Point, and served in the Florida W^ar. He was connected with the Brook Farm movement; graduated at the Harvard Divinity School in 1845. and became a L^nitarian clergy- nian. In the Civil War he was colonel, and then brigadier-general of volunteers, but resigned in 1862. Among his works are: The l^r.rrrriqnty of the People (1863); Transcendentalism (1870): Theory of the Calculus (1870); Socialistic, Communistic, Mutualistic, and Financial Frag- ments (1875). GREEN EARTH. A name frequently ap- plied to the mineral glauconiie (q.v.). The name is also applied to pulverulent varieties of the minerals chrysocoUa and malachite, especially when they are used in their natural condition as pigments. Another name for these earths is mountain green. GREEN EBONY. The wood of Jacaranda ovalifolia. a tree of the natural order Bignonia- ceic. which is exported in considerable quantity from South America. It yields olive-green, brown, and yellow colors in dyeing, but is also employed to some extent by turners and carpenters. The wood is hard, and of an olive-green color. The tree has showy, panicled flowers. GREEN'FIELD. A city and the county-seat of Hancock County, Ind., 21 miles east of Indian- apolis: on the Pittsburg. Cincinnati, Chicago and Saint Louis Railroad (Map: Indiana, D 3), It has a public library and a fine high-school building. The city is surrounded by a farming district, and manufactures window-glass, fruit- jars, bottles, pa]5er, gas-engines, foimdry prod- ucts, and bricks. Greenfield, incorporated as a city in 1876, is governed under the original char- ter, which provides for a mayor, elected every four years, and a unicameral council. The city owns and operates its water-works and electric- light plant. Greenfield is the birthplace of .lames AVhitcomb Rilev. Population, in 1890, 3100: in 1900, 4489. GREENFIELD. A town and the county-seat of Adair County, Iowa, 45 miles west by south of Des Moines: on the Chicago, Burlington and Qtiincy Railroad (Map: Iowa, C 3). It is the commercial centre for a fertile agricultural and stock-raising region. Population, in 1890, 1048; in 1900, 1.300. GREENFIELD. A town and the county-seat of Franklin County, Mass., 56 miles west of Fitchburg; on the Connecticut River, and at the junction of two divisions of the Boston and Maine Railroad (ilap: Massachusetts, B 2). It includes North Parish and Factory villages; and is principally engaged in the manufacture of cutlery, machinists' tools, machinery, shoes, silverware, agricultural implements, wooden- ware, paper boxes, bricks, and children's car- riages. The town has a Soldiers" Jlonument. the Franklin County Hospital, and two public li- braries. The government is administered by annual town meetings. Greenfield was settled in 1086. but remained a part of Deerfield until 1753, when it was incorporated as a town. During Shays's Rebellion a body of insurrection- ary troops was quartered here. Population, in 1890, 5252: in 1900, 7927. Consult Holland, Eistorii of Western Massachusetts (Springfield, 1855).' GREENFINCH, or GREEN LINNET. ( 1 ) A familiar European finch (Ligurinus ehloris) , common in Great Britain. It is of a prevailing green tint, mingled with gray and bro«-n. Its song is not very sweet, but in confinement it readily imitates the songs of other birds, and in consequence is a favorite cage-bird. (2) In the Rio Grande Valley, the name 'greenfinch' is given to a totally different bird (Emhernagra rufovirgata) . allied in the chewink (q.v.). This
