was an Italian 

Jesuit who led many academic and religious institutions in the United States and
Europe. Born in Lombardy, he studied at the Jesuit College in Polotsk, where he began his
academic career. He was soon ordered to China as a missionary, but after traveling across Europe
for two years attempting to secure passage, his orders were rescinded and he instead began
teaching at Stonyhurst College in England. In 1810, Grassi was sent to the United States, where he
became known as the "second founder" of Georgetown College for greatly improving its quality and
reputation. Grassi returned to Italy in 1817 as Archbishop Leonard Neale's representative before
the Propaganda Fide in Rome. He then spent time as a provincial superior in Turin, rector of the
Turin College of Nobles, and confessor to monarchs of the House of Savoy. In 1840, he became the
rector of the Pontificio Collegio Urbano de Propaganda Fide