Girac, Francois

(Bareau de), a French prelate, was born at Angoilleme in 1732. Destined from his infancy for the ecclesiastical calling, he was appointed successively vicar-general of the diocese of AngQuleme, dean of the cathedral, and sent by the ecclesiastical province of Tours to the assembly of the clergy in 1765. His uprightness and conciliatory spirit led to his being called soon. after, in 1766, to the bishopric of St. Brieuc, and three years later to that of Rennes, where he remained until the Revolution. Being then forced to go into exile, he attached himself successively to prince de Metternich, and Stanislas Poniatowski, last king of Poland. Returning to France, Girac, who counted thirty-five years in the episcopacy, sent in his resignation, in view of his long labors and feeble health, and accepted a canonship in the chapter of St. Denis. He died Nov. 29, 1820. See Hoefer, Nouv. Biog. Generale, s.v.