Giraud, Pierre

Giraud, Pierre a French cardinal, was born at Montferrand, August 11, 1791. Belonging to an ancient family, he was designed for the magistracy, but at the age of fifteen went to the seminary of Clermont to study philosophy, and while there developed a taste for belles-lettres and ancient classics. In October. 1812, he entered the seminary of St. Sulpice, where he studied theology and the sacred Scriptures. Three years later he was ordained priest. In 1818 he was sent as a missionary to Auvergne. He was rector of the cathedral of Clermont in 1825, when he was invited to preach during Lent at the Tuileries. A royal ordinance appointed him to the see of Rodez, Jan. 9, 1830. He was one of the signers of a criticism concerning certain propositions taken from the Avenir, and sent to the court of Rome by the archbishop of Toulouse. He was appointed archbishop of Cambray, December 4, 1841. He was made cardinal, June 11, 1847, and January 4, 1849, went to Gaeta, where Pius IX was a refugee. It was supposed with some reason that he was commissioned by MM. de Falloux and Drouyn de Lhuvs to induce the pope to accept the hospitality of France. He died at Carnbray, April 17, 1850. The works of Giraud have been collected and published several times. The third edition appeared in 1852. See Hoefer, Nouv. Biog. Generale, s.v.