MAZOCHI (Alexis Symmachus), a learned Italian, was born near Capua, in 1684. He was professor of Greek and Hebrew at Naples, and canon of Capua. He died in 1771. His works are 1. Commentarium in mutilum Campania Amphitheatri titulum, aliasque nonnullas inscriptiones, 4to. 2. Epistola de dedicatione sub asciâ. 3. Commentarium in vetus marmoreum S. Neap. Eccles. Calendarium. 4. Notes on the New Testament. 5. Dissertations on the Poetry of the Hebrews. 6. Antiquities of the Campagna of Rome. Fabroni. MAZZUCHELLI (John Maria), a Venetian nobleman, was born in 1707, and died in 1765. His works are-1. Notizie Historiche e Critiche intorno alla vita, alle inventione, ed agli Scritti di Archimedi Siracusano, 4to. 2. La vita di Pietro Aretino, 8vo. 3. Gli Scrittori d'Italia, cioè Notitie Storiche e Critiche intorno alle vite, e agli Scritti dei Letterati Italiani, 6 vols. folio. Ibid. divine, was born in Staffordshire in 1697; and educated at Merton-college, Oxford, where he obtained a fellowship. In 1752 he was promoted to a canonry of Worcester, and died there in 1769. He wrote "A Critical Dissertation, with Notes, upon Milton's Paradise Regained."— Gen. Bing. Dict. MECHAIN (Peter Francis Andrew), an astronomer, was born at Laon in 1744. He became a member of the academy of sciences, and had the superintendance of the Connoissance des Tems. In 1792 he and Delambre undertook the task of measuring the degrees of the meridian, in which laborious employment Mechain died, in Spain, in 1805.Rees's Cyclopædia. MEDE (Joseph), a learned divine, was born in 1586, at Berden, in Essex. He became a commoner of Christ's college, Cambridge, where he took his master's degree in 1610, and obtained a fellowship. He was also chosen reader of the Greek lecture; and in 1618 proceeded to the degree of bachelor in divinity. He died in 1638. His works have been published in 1 vol. folio, 1672 The principal of his writings is entitled "Clavis Apocalyptica;" in which he has established the only sure principles of explaining the prophecies contained in the book of Revelation. — Life by Worthington. MEDICI (Cosmo de), a citizen of Florence, called the "Father of his Country," was born in 1389. He was the son of John de Medici, who died in 1428; at which time Cosmo had acquired distinction as a mer chant and statesman. In 1433 the party of Rinaldo d'Albizi banished him from the republic, on which he went to Venice; but in about a year he returned, and Rinaldo was ob liged to quit Florence. Cosmo now became the first man in the state; and employed his wealth in promoting literature, particularly the study of the Greek language, and the Platonic philosophy; for which purpose he founded an academy, and collected from the east an immense number of manuscripts. He died in 1464. — Moreri. MEAD (Richard), son of the preceding, was born at Stepney, Aug. 11. 1673. He studied at Utrecht and Leyden, and from thence went to Padua, where he took his doctor's degree, in which he was incorporated at Oxford on his return to England; and appointed physician to St. Thomas's Hospital. He was also admitted a fellow of the Royal Society, and of the college of physicians. In 1719 he was consulted by government on the means of preventing contagion; and the advice which he gave respecting quarantine laws was adopted. He also MEDICI (Lorenzo de), grandson of the contributed to the introduction of the practice preceding, was born in 1448, and succeeded of inoculation for the small pox, and a his father, Peter, as the head of the republic new method of treating that disorder. He in 1469. While engaged in the advancement became principal physician to George II., of literature, a conspiracy was formed against and had his two sons-in-law, Drs. Wilmot the house of Medici, by the family of the and Nichols, for his associates. In the Pazzi; but after assassinating the brother of midst of his professional engagements he Lorenzo, they were defeated and banished. cultivated polite literature, and encouraged Lorenzo, on terminating a contest with the arts. His library and museum were the pope, devoted himself to the culti open to all men of science; many of whom vation of learning and the arts. He were assisted in their labours by his libe- restored the academy of Pisa; founded rality. Dr. Mead died full of honours, another at Florence, and formed a noble Feb. 16. 1754, and was buried in the Tem- gallery and library. On the surrender of ple-church, near his brother, who was a Constantinople to the Turks, he employed counsellor. His works have been published the fugitive Greek scholars in collecting in one volume, 4to. and three volumes, manuscripts, and thus proved the reviver of 12mo., with his life prefixed. learning in Europe. Well, therefore, did he MEADOWCOURT (Richard), an English merit the title of "Lorenzo the Magnificent," MEDINA (Sir John), a portrait painter, was born at Brussels in 1659. He came to England in 1686; and after painting a great number of pictures, went to Scotland, where he was knighted by the duke of Queensberry, lord high commissioner, being the last in stance of honour having been conferred in that kingdom. He died there in 1711. His grandson, John Medina, who died at Edinburgh in 1796, was also a painter. · - Gen. Biog. Dict. MEERMAN (Gerard), a learned lawyer, was born at Leyden in 1722. He became pensionary of Rotterdam, and died in 1771. His works are-1. De rebus mancipi et nec mancipi, 4to. 2. Specimen calculi fluxionalis, 4to. 3. Specimen animadversionum in Cazi institutiones. 4. Novus Thesaurus juris civilis, 7 vols. fol. 5. Conspectus originum Typographicarum proxime in lucem edendarum. 6. Origines Typographicæ, 2 vols. 4to. - Dict. Hist. MEHEGAN (William Alexander), a French writer, was born of an Irish family, at Salle, in the Cévennes, in 1721, and died in 1766. His works are-1. The Origin of the Guebres. 2. Considerations on the Revolutions of the Arts. 3. Fugitive pieces. 4. Memoirs of the Marchioness of Terville. 5. The Origin and Progress of Idolatry. 6. Picture of Modern History, 3 vols. 12mo. - Ibid. - MEIBOMIUS (John Henry), a physician, was born at Helmstadt in 1590. He became a professor at his native place, and afterwards physician at Lubeck, where he died in 1655. He wrote some works on medical subjects, and a Life of Mecanas, in Latin, printed at Leyden in 1653, 4to. His son, Henry Meibomius, was born at Lubeck in 1638. He took his doctor's degree in physic in 1663; after which he became professor of medicine, to which were added the chairs of history and poetry, at Helmstadt, where he died in 1700. He published "Scriptores rerum Germanicarum," 3 vols. folio. Moreri. MEIBOMIUS (Marcus), a learned writer of the same family, was born in 1611. He published, in 1652, a collection of the ancient Greek authors on music, with a Latin version, 2 vols. folio. He resided some time at the Swedish court; but was obliged to leave it in consequence of a quarrel between him and a physician. He then went to Denmark, and became a professor at Sora, a college instituted for the young nobility. Afterwards he removed to Elsineur as president of the board of custorns; but being dismissed for negligence, he went to Amsterdam, and was appointed professor of history, which place he also lost. He died there in 1711. At the close of his life he pretended that the Hebrew Bible was full of errors, which he undertook to correct by a metre. His other works are 1. An edition of Diogenes Laertius, 2 vols. 4to. 2. Liber de Fabrica Triremium. 3. Dialogues on Proportions. . 4. An edition of the Greek Mythologists. Moreri. MELA (Pomponius), a 'Latin writer on geography, was born in Spain, in the first century of the Christian era. His Cosmography, or " De Situ Orbis," was published by Isaac Vossius, in 1658, 4to. Gronovius also printed an edition in 12mo., which produced a dispute between the two critics. There is also a good edition by Reynolds, at Exeter, 1711, 4to.; and another at Leipsic, in 1807, 7 vols. 8vo. -Fabricius. MELANCTHON (Philip), was born at Bretten, in Germany, February 16. 1497. His family name was Schwartserd, or "Black Earth," which he exchanged for the Greek term of Melancthon. After a domestic education he went to Pfortsheim, where Reuchlin assisted him in his studies. He next removed to Heidelberg; and in 1512 to Tubingen, where he read lectures on the classics and the sciences. In 1513 he received the degree of doctor in philosophy; and in 1518 the elector of Saxony appointed him professor of Greek at Wittemberg. Here he became acquainted with Luther, whom he accompanied to Leipsic, and joined in the dispute with Eckius. In 1527 Melancthon was empowered to visit the churches in Saxony; after which he was appointed, in conjunction with Luther, to draw up a code of ecclesiastical laws, for the reformed states. He was also employed in framing the confession of Augsburgh. The moderation of Melancthon exhibited a strik-ing contrast to the violence of Luther, while his learning contributed much to the progress of the reformation. He was invited to France and England by the monarchs of those kingdoms; but never went out of Germany. He died at Wittemberg, April 19. 1560. Melancthon left two daughters; one of whom became the wife of George Sabinus, and the other of Gaspar Peucer. A Frenchman once visiting the reformer, found him with a book in one hand, and rocking the cradle with the other; and when the stranger expressed his surprise, Melancthon made a pious discourse on the duty of a father, and the state of grace in which children are with God. While the disputes raged fiercely about religion, Melancthon called upon his mother, who asked him what she should believe in those troublesome times, at the same time repeating a summary of her devotions: "Go on," said he, "in the same course, and leave controversial questions to the disputants." His works were published in 1601, in 4 vols. folio. — Life by Camerarius. MELEAGER, a Greek poet, was born in the territory of Gadara, in Syria, B. C. 96. MELMOTH (William), a barrister, was born in 1606. He became a bencher of Lincoln's Inn; and, in conjunction with Peere Williams, published Vernon's Reports. But the work, which does most honour to his name is the " Great Importance of a Religious Life," one of the best practical books of piety in our language. He died in 1743. - Life by his son. MELMOTH (William), son of the above, was born in 1710. He was also bred to the law; and in 1756 was made a commissioner of bankrupts. He died at Bath in 1799. His works are 1. Letters, under the name of Fitzosborne, 8vo. 2. A translation of Pliny's Epistles, 2 vols. 8vo. 3. The Letters of Cicero, with remarks, 3 vols. Translations of Cicero " De Senectute," and "De Amicitia." 5. Memoirs of his Father. 6. Some poems in Dodsley's collection. Nichols's Bowyer. 4. MELVIL. (Sir James), was born in Fifeshire in 1530. He was page to queen Mary, who permitted him to enter into the service of the duke of Montmorenci; after which he was employed by the elector Palatine, and on several embassies. In 1561 he returned to Scotland, and was made gentleman of the queen's bed-chamber. James VI. appointed him a privy councillor, and gave him a MENAGE (Giles), a French writer, was born at Angers in 1613. He was bred to the law; but became disgusted with that profession, and entered the church. Though he obtained some ecclesiastical preferments, particularly the deanery of St. Peter, at Angers; he devoted himself solely to literary pursuits, and published several works; the chief of which were -1. Origines de la langue Françoise, 4to.; afterwards enlarged to 2 vols. folio. 2 Miscellanea, in Greek, Latin, and French, 4to. 3. An edition of Diogenes Laertius 4. Poemata. 5. Origine della Lingua Italiana. 6. Juris Civilis amanitates 7. Observations sur la langue Françoise, 2 vols. 12mo. 8. Historia Mulierum Phi losopharum. Menage died in 1692. Menagiana. MENANDER, a Greek poet, was born at Athens in the year 342 B. C. He began to write comedies at the age of twenty; but though he produced eighty, only a few fragments exist. Terence is supposed to have translated most of his plays from Menander, who was drowned accidentally, B. C. 293. - Vossius de Poet. Græc. MENANDRINO (Marsilio), commonly called Marsilius of Padua, a lawyer of the four teenth century. He wrote an apology for the emperor Louis of Bavaria, entitled "Defensor Pacis," in which he maintained that the pope was dependent upon that mo narch, both in spirituals and temporals For this Marsilius was excommunicated in 1327. He was also the author of a treatise. entitled "De translatione imperii;" and another "De jurisdictione imperiali in causis matrimonialibus." He died in 1398Gen. Dict. MENARD (Claude), a French antiquary, was born in 1582. He was a magistrate at Angers; but on the death of his wife be became an ecclesiastic. He died in 1652 His publications are-1. Joinville's His tory of St. Louis, with notes, 4to. The two books of St. Austin against Juan 3. Researches concerning the body of S James the Great. 4. History of Bertrand du Gueschlin. There was a Benedictine of the same name, who published a Martyology of Saints of his order. He died in 1644. Besides these we may notice L Menard, a counsellor of Nismes, who died in 1767. He wrote 1. "The Civil, Ecclesiastical, and Literary History of Nismes," 7 vols. 4to. 2. " Maurs et Usages des Grees." 3. The Amours of Car thenes and Aristoclea. 4. Fugitive picces 3 vols. 4to. Gen. Biog. Dict MENASSEH BEN ISRAEL, a learned rabbi, was born in Portugal about 1604. He removed with his family to Holland, where he became 4to. MEN reader and expounder of the Talmud, in the He also great synagogue at Amsterdam. engaged in the printing business; and published three editions of the Hebrew Bible, In the time of Crombesides other works. well he came to England, to procure permission for his brethren to form a settlement here; and to that end Menasseh flattered the usurper by representing him as the promised deliverer of the Jews. The mission, however, failed, through the opposition of the presbyterians; and Menasseh went back to Amsterdam, where he died about 1660. His principal works are 1. Conciliator, sive de convenientia Locorum S. Scripturæ, The original of this is in Spanish. 2. An edition of the Hebrew Bible, 2 vols. 4to. 3. De Resurrectione Mortuorum. 5. Esperanza 4. An Apology for the Jews. Moreri. de Israel, 1650. MENCKE (Otto), a German writer, was born at Oldenburg, in Westphalia, in 1644. He became professor of morals, and licentiate in divinity, at Leipsic, where he died in 1707. He published 1. An edition of 2. Another Marsham's Canon Chronicus. 3. The Acta Eruof Camden's Elizabeth. ditorum of Leipsic; the first volume of Mencke's which appeared in 1682, in 4to. share of this work amounts to thirty volumes. His son, John Burcard Mencke, was born at He Leipsic in 1674, and died in 1732. was professor of history at Leipsic, and wrote several books, the chief of which are -1." De Charlatanaria eruditorum cum 8vo. 2. Bibliotheca notis variorum," Menckeniana, or a catalogue of the libra 3. Dicries of himself and his father. tionary of learned Men, fol. He continued the Acta Eruditorum, of which he published 33 vols., with supplements and indexes. - Ibid. MENDELSOHN (Moses), a Jewish writer, was born at Dessau, in Anhalt, in 1729. Being very poor he went to Berlin, at the age of fourteen, and was employed by a rabbi as a transcriber of manuscripts. In this situation he acquired a considerable knowledge of the languages and sciences, which he cultivated by an acquaintance with some other literary Jews, and afterwards with Lessing, whom he defended from the Mendelsohn died in charge of Atheism. 1785. His principal works are 1. "Jerusalem," a treatise, in which he asserts that 2. Judaism is only a civil institution. “Phædon, a Dialogue on the Immortality of the Soul." This book procured him the 3. Comname of the "Jewish Socrates.' mentary on Part of the Old Testament. 4. Letters on the Sensation of the Beautiful. · Rees's Cyclop. was He MENDEZ (Moses), an English poet, born in London of Jewish parentage. received a liberal education, and created master of arts at Oxford in 1750. He wrote some very popular musical enter was MEN He was the in- MENDEZ-PINTO (Ferdinand), a celebrated MENDOZA (John Gonzales), a Spanish divine, who was sent ambassador to the emperor of China in 1584; and on his return became successively bishop of Lipari in Italy; of Chiapi in New Spain; and of Propajan in the West Indies. He wrote "A History of China," in Spanish, of which a French translation was published in 1589. — Ibid. MENEDEMUS, a Greek philosopher, who He was a native of the island of Euboea. became a disciple of Plato and Xenocrates; but afterwards joined the Cyrenaic sect. There was a cynic phiHe died B. C. 284. losopher of the same name, who lived at a later period. He brought his sect into disrepute by the extravagance of his conduct. — Diogenes Laertius. MENESTRIER (John Baptist le), a learned antiquary, was born at Dijon in 1564, and He published). Medals, died in 1634. Coins, and Monuments, of the Roman Em2. Illustrious Medals of the perors, folio. Emperors and Empresses of Rome, 4to. He is to be distinguished from Claude Francis Menestrier, a Jesuit, who was born at Lyons in 1633, and died in 1705. 2. Consular History published — 1. History of Louis the Great illustrated by Medals. 3. Methode de of the City of Lyons, folio. Blason, 8vo. 4. La Philosophie des Images, Moreri. Niceron. 12mo. He MENGS (Anthony Raphael), a painter, was born at Aussig, in Bohemia, in 1726. He studied under his father, who was painter to Augustus III., king of Poland, after which he went to Rome, where he was patronized by Charles III., king of Spain, for whom he executed a number of pictures. The best of He died at Rome in 1779. his pieces in England is an altar-piece at All Souls-college, Oxford. Mengs wrote some works on his art, which have been translated into English, in 2 vols. 8vo. — Life by D'Azara. MENINSKI, OF MENIN (Franciscus a Mesignien) a learned writer, was born in Lorraine in 1623. He studied at Rome, and at the age of thirty went to Constantinople, where he made himself master of the Turk MENIPPUS, a cynic, who was a native of Gadara, in Syria, and the disciple of Mene. demus. He was such a severe satirist, that Lucian calls him the most snarling of all the dogs of his sect. His satires were partly in prose, and partly in verse. He is said to have hung himself, on account of the loss of his riches, which he had gathered by usury. Diogenes Laertius. MENNES (sir John), a seaman and poet, was born at Sandwich in 1598, and educated at Corpus Christi-college, Oxford. In the reign of Charles I. he was inade comptroller of the navy-office, and knighted. About this time he had the command of a ship of war, but was deprived of it by the republicans. At the Restoration he was made governor of Dover-castle, comptroller of the navy, and an admiral. He died in 1671. He wrote some poems, in a collection called "Musarum Delicia, or the Muses' Recreation," 12mo. 1656.- Wood. MENNO, OF SIMONSON, the founder of a sect called by his name. He was born in Friesland in 1505, and received orders in the church of Rome; but being of a profligate character, he apostatized, and formed a new society of Anabaptists in the duchy of Holstein, where he died in 1561 Mosheim. MENOCHIUS (James), a learned lawyer, was born at Pavia in 1532. He was president of the council at Milan, and died in 1607. His works are 1. De recuperanda possessione, de adipiscendâ possessione. 2. De Præsumptionibus, 2 vols. folio. 3. De arbitrariis Judicum quæstionibus, et causis Conciliorum, fol. His son, John Stephen Menochius, became a Jesuit, and died at Rome at the age of eighty, in 1656. wrote-1. Institutions political and economical. 2. On the Hebrew Republic. 3. A Commentary on the Bible, 2 vols. folio. Dict. Hist. He MENTZEL (Christian), a botanist, was born at Furstenwal, in Germany. He travelled as far as the Indies in pursuit of knowledge, and, on his return to Europe, became a member of the imperial society Natura Curiosorum. He died at the age of seventynine, in 1701. His works are 1. Index nominum Plantarum, folio, 1696; and reprinted in 1715, with the title of Lexicon plantarum Polyglotton Universale. 2. Chro. nology of China, 4to. 3. Natural History of Brazil, 4 vols. folio. 4. On the Flowers MENZIKOFF (Alexander), a Russian prince, was originally a pastry-cook, in which situation he was noticed by the czar Peter, who took him into his service, and raised him to the rank of major-general in the army, and a prince of the empire. On the death of the emperor, Menzikoff secured the succession to Catharine, who caused Peter II. to marry his daughter. But these honours ruined the favourite; for becoming equally offensive, by his haughty deportment to the emperor and the nobility, he was at last disgraced and sent into Siberia, where he died, in 1729- Univ. Hist. MENZINI (Benedict), an Italian poet, was born at Florence in 1646. He became canon of St. Angelo, in Pisena, and a member of the society of Arcadi, as also of the academy Della Crusca. He died in 1704. His works were published in 4 vols 8vo. His "Art of Poetry" has been translated into English. - Fabroni. MERCATI (Michael), a physician, was born at St. Miniato, in Tuscany, in 1541. He took his doctor's degree at Pisa, and then settled at Rome, where he became superintendant of the botanical garden, and physi cian to the pope, rank of nobility. He died in 1599. He wrote 1." On the Plague, the Corruption of the Air, the Gout, and Palsy," 4to. 2. A Description of the Roman Obelisks, 4to. 3. "Metallotheca, opus posthumum," folio. - Rees's Cyclopædia. He was also raised to the MERCATOR (Gerard), a mathematician, was born in 1512 at Ruremonde. He made a number of maps, globes, and mathematical instruments; besides which he published a Chronology; and some works in philosophy and theology. He died in 1594. He is to be distinguished from Nicholas Mercator, who was born in Holstein in 1640, and died in England in 1694. He was a fellow of the Royal Society, and laid claim to a method of sailing which had been published many years before he was born, by our countryman Edward Wright. Mercator was, however, an able mathematician, and the author of some valuable works in astronomy and geography. — Martin's Biog. Phil. MERCIER (Bartholomew), a learned writer, was born at Lyons in 1734. He was a member of the congregation of St. Genevieve, and librarian to that society. Louis XV., on visiting that monastery, gave Mercier the abbey of St. Leger, at Soissons. He died in 1799. His works are - 1. Supplement a l'Histoire de l'imprimerie de Prosper Marchand, 4to. 2. Lettre sur la Pucelle d'Orleans. 3. Lettres sur differentes editions rares du XV. Siecle, 8ra. 4. Observations sur l'Essai d'un Projet de Catalogue de Bibliotheque. 5. Bibliotheque de Romans traduits du Grec, 12 vols — Dict. Hist. |