Merode, Francois Xavier Marie Frederic Ghislain De

Merode, Francois Xavier Marie Frederic Ghislain De a Roman Catholic prelate, was born at Brussels in March, 1820. He was descended from a noble Spanish family, and entered the Belgian army in 1841, serving with distinction as a volunteer in Algeria under marshal Bugeaud. He began the study of theology at Rome in 1848, and took priest's orders in 1850. He was then appointed chamberlain to the pope and canon of St. Peter's, and in 1860 was made minister of military affairs. He resigned this office in 1865, in consequence of a disagreement with cardinal Antonelli, but was appointed archbishop of Melitene, June 22, 1866, and private almoner to the pope. He opposed the dogma of papal infallibility in 1869, but in 1870 accepted the decision of the Vatican Council. He died at Rome, July 24, 1874. His wealth was largely devoted to the founding of charitable institutions, to the improvement of the streets and squares in Rome, and to archaeological excavations.