GEFRÖER, August Friedrich. — Historian, b. 5 March 1803 at Calw (Württemberg), d. 6 July 1861 at Karlsbad. Of Protestant faith, in 1846 he became professor of history at the University of Freiburg in Br. Elected in 1848 as deputy to the Frankfurt Assembly, he was deeply concerned with the reunion of the various confessions, though without succeeding in his aim. In 1853 he converted to the Catholic Church. Despite various shortcomings, his most important work is the history of Gregory VII (Papst Gregorius VII und sein Zeitalter, 7 vols., Schaffhausen 1859–61).
Bibl.: J. Beckmann, s. V. in I.ThK, IV, col. 485 with bibl.: P. Schlager, s. V. in Cath. Enc., VI, p. 542. Silvio Furlani