rewarded with the purple. During the regency he was banished to his abbey of Anchin; but afterwards he was recalled, and appointed agent for French affairs at Rome. In 1726 he was made archbishop of Auch. He died in 1741. He wrote a Latin poem, entitled "Anti-Lucretius;" published at Paris in 1747, in 2 vols. 8vo. Life by Franeker.

POLITI (Alexander), a learned Italian, was born at Florence in 1679. He taught first at Genoa, from whence he removed to Pisa, where he became professor of eloquence, and died in 1752. He published -1. An Edition of Homer, with the Commentary of Eustathius, 3 vols. folio. 2. Martyrologium Romanum castigatum, folio. 3. Orationes ad Acad. Pisanam. 4. De patria in condendis testamentis potestate. Fabroni.

POLITIAN (Angelus), was born at Monte Pulciano, in Tuscany, in 1454. He took his name from the Latin appellation of his native place," Mons Politianus," his real one being Benedict de Cinis. Lorenzo de Medici employed him as the preceptor of his children, and gave him the priory of the college of S. Giovanni, and afterwards a canonry in the cathedral of Florence. He died in 1494. His principal works are1. Miscellanea. 2. A Latin Version of Herodian. 3. Greek Epigrams. 4. Latin Poems. 5. Letters. - Life by Gresswell.

POLLEXFEN (Sir Henry), an eminent judge, was born in Devonshire; but no particulars are recorded of his education. In 1688 he was one of the counsel for the seven bishops. After the Revolution he was knighted, and made chief justice of the Common Pleas He died in 1692. His Arguments and Reports" were published, in folio, in 1702. Bridgman's Legal

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Bibl.

POLLIO (Caius Asinius), a celebrated Roman, who was much esteemed by Augustus, and gained a great reputation by his military exploits, but more by his literary connexions. He defeated the Dalmatians, and rendered service to Marc Antony during the civil wars. He was the intimate friend of Horace and Virgil, who have immortalized him in their works. He was himself an author, and wrote tragedies, orations, and a history, which are lost. He died at Frescati, aged eighty, B. C. 4.- Life by Masson.

POLLUX (Julius), a grammarian, was born in Egypt in 180. He taught rhetoric at Athens with such reputation, as to be appointed preceptor to the emperor Commodus, for whose use he drew up an "Onomasticon, or Greek vocabulary:" printed by Aldus, in 1502; and with a Latin version, in 1608; but the best edition is that of Amsterdam, in 1706, folio. Pollux died in 238. There was another of this name in the fourth century, who wrote "Historia Phy

sica," published at Bologna, in 1779.Fabricius Bibl. Græc.

POLYENUS, a Greek author in the second century, who wrote eight books of the "Stratagems of illustrious Generals." He appears to have been a Macedonian, and, after serving in the army, he became a statesman under Antoninus and Varus. His work entitled "Stratagemata," was published by Isaac Casaubon, in 1589; but the best edition is that of Leyden, in 1690. There is an English translation by Shepherd, 1793, 4to. Ibid.

POLYBIUS, a Greek historian, was the son of Lycortas, general of the Achæans, and born in Arcadia, B. C. 203. He was sent to Rome as one of the hostages demanded of the Achæans, and his residence at the capital of the world was of great importance to Polybius, who, on his return to Greece, was employed in public affairs by several states. He lived to the age of eighty-two. He wrote a "Universal History," in forty books, of which we have only five complete, and an abridgement of twelve others. The best editions are that of Casaubon, 1609, folio; of Gronovius, 3 vols. 8vo., 1670; and at Leipsic, in 1789, 9 vols. 8vo. Polybius has been translated into English by Hampton. Biog. Classica.

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POLYCARP (St.), was born, it is supposed, at Smyrna, in the reign of Nero. He is said to have been a disciple of St. John the Evangelist, who consecrated him bishop of Smyrna, and addressed him in his apocalyptical epistle. Ignatius also held Polycarp in high estimation, and recommended to his care the church of Antioch. He visited Rome to confer with Anicetus about the time of celebrating Easter, and, during his stay there, opposed the heresies of Marcion and Valentinus. The former, meeting him one day in the street, said, Polycarp, acknowledge us;" to which he replied, "Yes, I acknowledge thee to be the first-born of Satan!" He governed the church of Smyrna till A.D. 167, when he was sentenced to be burnt; but the flames passing over him like an arch, one of the soldiers ran him through with a sword, on which such a quantity of blood issued forth as extinguished the fire; and, at the same time, a dove was seen to fly from the wound. His epistle to the Philippians is in Wake's collection of the apostolical fathers.

Cave.

POLYCLETUS, a sculptor, was born at Sicyon, and flourished about the year B. C. 430. A statue of a boy, executed by him, was sold for one hundred talents, equivalent to twenty thousand pounds sterling. — Pliny, Nat. Hist.

POLYGNOTUS, a painter of Thasos, about 422 B. C. He gained celebrity by a series of pictures on the war of Troy, for which he refused the presents offered him by the states of Greece; and thereby so pleased the Am

phictyons, that they gave him the public thanks. -Cave.

POMBAL (Sebastian Joseph Carvalho, marquis of), a Portuguese statesman, was born in 1699. He studied at Coimbra, and afterwards entered into the military profession. In 1750 he became secretary for foreign affairs, in which situation he created many enemies; but it was not till 1777 that their intrigues took effect in procuring his disgrace. He died in 1782. His Memoirs were published at Paris, in 1783, in 4 vols. 12mo. Dict. Hist.

POMET (Peter), a French druggist, was born in 1658. He was appointed superintendant of the king's garden, of which collection he drew up a catalogue; but he is best known by his "General History of Drugs," folio; which has been translated into English. He died in 1699. - Eloy, Dict. Med.

POMEY (Francis), a Jesuit, who became an eminent instructor of youth at Lyons, where he died, very old, in 1673. His "Pantheon, or System of Mythology," was published in English, without acknowledgment, by Tooke. Pomey was the author of some other useful works in the line of education. Moreri.

POMFRET (John), a poet, was the son of the rev. John Pomfret, rector of Luton, in Bedfordshire, and born there about 1667. He took his degrees in arts at Queen's college, Cambridge, entered into orders, and obtained the living of Malden, in Bedfordshire. On going to London to obtain institution to another benefice, in 1703, he caught the small-pox, and died the same year. His poems were published in 1699; and some additional pieces were printed after his death. -Johnson's Poets.

POMMERAYE (John Francis), a Benedictine of St. Maur, was born at Rouen in 1617, and died of an apoplexy, in 1687. His works are — 1. L'Histoire de l'Abbaye de S. Ouen de Rouen, folio. 2. A History of the Archbishops of Rouen. 3. A Collection of the Councils and Synods of Rouen. 4. L'Histoire de la Cathédrale de Rouen. 5. Pratique journaliere de l'Aumone.

Moreri.

of Theocritus and Macrobius. In 1768 came out his tragedy of "Hypermestra," which was followed by "Callirrhoe." In 1774 appeared his translation of Plutarch's Lives, 4 vols. 4to.; and in 1778 he printed two volumes of "Nuova Canzoni Pastorali." He died at Verona in 1790.- Fabroni.

POMPEY, called the Great, was of a noble family, and born B. C. 105. He studied the art of war under his father, and, when he was only twenty-three, raised three le gions, with which he joined Sylla, whose opponents he drove out of Sicily and Africa. That commander recalled him to Rome, and gave him the name of Magnus. Pompey also obtained the honours of a triumph, and was chosen consul; in which office he restored the tribunes, and extended the Roman empire beyond Asia Minor. For these services he received another triumph, soon after which he formed the first triumvirate with Cæsar and Crassus; but though he married the daughter of Cæsar, a civil war broke out between them, in which Pompey was defeated, at Pharsalia. He was assassinated the same year, B. C. 49.Plutarch.

POMPIGNAN (John James le Franc, marquis of), was born at Montauban in 1709 He was educated for civil employment, and became first president of the court of aids at his native place, where he indulged s taste for poetry, and produced his tragedy of "Dido." In 1760 he was received into the academy, and in his inaugural discourse ventured to assert the union of philosophy and religion; for which he was ridiculed by Voltaire and his tribe. The marquis died a 1784. His principal works are, "Sacred Odes;" an imitation of the Georgics; 4 Translation of part of Lucian; another of Eschylus; and Dissertations. His brother became archbishop of Vienne, and wrote "A Critical Essay on the State of the Republic of Letters;" and some other pieces. He died in 1790.- Dict. Hist. POMPONATIUS (Peter), an Italian writer, was born at Mantua in 1462. He read lectures at Padua, and afterwards at Bologna, where he wrote his treatise " De Immortalitate Animæ," which was suppressed by the papal bull of Leo X. But if Pomponatius was a sceptic in this point of faith, he was superstitious in others, particularly in regard to astrology and magic. He also wrote a book on "Fate and Free Will." He died in 1525. — Gen. Dict.

POMPONIUS LÆTUS (Julius), an Italian antiquary, was the illegitimate son of a nobleman, named Sanseverino, in the kingdom of Naples. He studied at Rome under Laurentius Valla, whom he succeeded in the professorship. Here, also, he founded an academy, the members of which took Latinized names, when our author assumed that of Pomponius Lætus. Paul II. suppressed this institution, and sent the mem

bers to prison, where they were put to the torture, of which one of them died. Sixtus IV. restored the rest to their liberty, and Pomponius to his professorship. He died in 1498. He published the first edition of Sallust, and wrote notes on various classic authors. His own works were printed at Mentz in 1521.- Tiraboschi. PONTANUS (John Jovian), a learned Italian, was born at Cerreto, in Umbria, in 1426. He became preceptor to Alphonso the younger, king of Arragon, who made him his counsellor and secretary. He died in 1503. He wrote "A History of the Wars of Ferdinand I. and John of Anjou." His prose works were printed at Venice in 1513, 3 vols. 8vo; and his poems in 1505, 2 vols. 8vo. -. Ibid.

PONTANUS (John Isaac), historiographer to the king of Denmark and the province of Guelderland, was born in 1571, and died in 1640. His works are-1. Historia Urbis et Rerum Amstelodamensium, folio. 2. Itinerarium Galliæ Narbonensis. 3. Rerum Danicarum Historia, folio. 4. Discussiones Historicæ. 5. De Rheni divortiis et accolis populis. 6. Historia Geldrica. 7. Origines Francicæ. — Moreri.

PONTAS (John), a casuist, was born at St. Hilaire de Harcourt in 1638. He was vicar of St. Genevieve, and subpenitentiary at Paris, where he died in 1728. He wrote-1." A Dictionary of Cases of Conscience," 3 vols. folio. 2. Scriptura Sacra ubique sibi constans, 4to. 3. Les Entretiens Spirituels pour instruire, exhorter, et consoler les Malades. - Moreri. PONTAULT (Sebastian Beaulieu de), a French engineer. At the age of fifteen he was appointed, for his gallant conduct, commissary of artillery. He afterwards distinguished himself in several battles and sieges, until the loss of an arm, and other wounds, obliged him to retire from the service. died in 1674. His principal work is entitled "Les Glorieuses Conquêtes de Louis le Grand," 2 vols. folio. Biog. Univ.

He

PONTIDERA (Julius), a botanist, was born at Vicenza in 1688. He became professor of botany at Padua, and superintendant of the public garden in that city. He was also a member of the Academy of Inscriptions and Belles Lettres at Paris. He died in 1737. His principal work is entitled "Compendium tabularum Botanicarum," 4to. Moreri.

PONTOPPIDAN (Eric), a Danish prelate,

POOL (Matthew), a nonconformist, was born at York in 1624. He took his degree of master of arts at Emanuel-college, Cambridge; after which he became minister of St. Michael-le-Querne, London. He formed an institution for the maintenance of poor students at the university; and several, who afterwards rose to eminence in the church, were indebted to this fund for their support at college. In 1662 Mr. Pool was ejected from his living, for nonconformity, on which he undertook his great work, the "Synopsis Criticorum." This immense body of bib. lical criticism, originally published in 5 vols. folio, was reprinted at Frankfort in 1678; again at Utrecht, by Leusden, in 1686; and a fifth edition of it appeared at Frankfort, in 1709, in 6 vols. folio. While thus employed, our author wrote some books against popery, and he began also “ English Annotations on the Holy Bible;" but proceeded no farther than the 58th chapter of Isaiah, the remainder being completed by other hands, in 2 vols. folio. When Oates gave an account of the popish plot, in the list of those who were to be taken off by it, the name of Mr. Pool was found, which induced him to go to Amsterdam, where he died, in 1679. Gen. Biog. Dict.

POPE (Alexander), a celebrated poet, was born May 22. 1688, in Lombard-street, London, where his father, a linen-draper, acquired a considerable fortune. Both his parents were Roman catholics. He was from his birth of a delicate constitution, very small and much deformed. His first instructor was a priest, named Taverner, who taught him the rudiments of Greek and Latin at the same time. He was next sent to

a catholic seminary at Twyford, but having written a lampoon on his master, he was removed to a school near Hyde Park corner, where he formed a play taken from Ogilby's translation of the Iliad, which was performed by the upper boys and the gardener. In 1700, he went to live with his father at Binfield near Oakingham; where another priest was engaged for his instruction, from whom he learnt but little; and therefore he resolved to study by himself. Though his "Ode on Solitude" is said to have been his first performance, it appears that he had produced some poetical pieces at an earlier period. At the age of sixteen he wrote his "Pastorals," which procured him the friendship of the principal wits of the time. His next performance was the "Essay on Cri. ticism," published in 1711. The "Messiah" appeared first in the Spectator, and this was

followed by his "Ode on St. Cecilia's Day." About this period also he produced the "Rape of the Lock," occasioned by lord Petre's cutting off a ringlet of Mrs. Arabella Fermor's hair. He next brought out his "Epistle from Eloisa to Abelard," the poetical merit of which will not atone for its want of delicacy. Pope now undertook his translation of the "Iliad," which he published by subscription, and cleared by it above five thousand pounds, part of which he laid out in the purchase of a house at Twickenham, and with the rest he bought an annuity. This work, however, occasioned a difference between him and Addison, owing to the appearance of another version of the first book of the Iliad, under the name of Tickell, but which was, as Pope pretended, the performance of Addison himself. Our author next engaged in an edition of Shakspeare, after which, he issued proposals for a translation of the "Odyssey,' but his part only amounted to twelve books, the rest being executed by Broome and Fenton. In 1729 appeared the "Dunciad," in which Pope took ample vengeance on his enemies; but at the same time injured his own reputation by his illiberality. In a subsequent edition of this poem he altered the hero from Theobald to Cibber. Two years after this he produced his "Epistle to the Earl of Burlington," in which he took occasion to ridicule the duke of Chandos under the name of Timon. His "Essay on Man," which was completed in 1734, attracted universal admiration, though it was soon discovered that the doctrines were more favourable to natural than revealed religion. Warburton however published a defence of the principles of the Essay, and thereby gained the friendship of the poet, who left him the copy-right of his works, and by introducing him to Allen, was the cause of his getting a wife, an estate, and a bishopric. In 1735, Pope brought out an epistle on the "Characters of Women," in a subsequent edition of which he introduced a personage named Atossa, intended, as was said, for the duchess of Marlborough, who paid the author for the suppression of it, one thousand pounds. In 1737 Pope printed his Letters by subscription, for which he alleged as his excuse, that some of his epistles had been surreptitiously published by Edmund Curll. His last literary concern was the publication of a fourth book of the Dunciad. He died in the Roman catholic persuasion, or at least in conformity to its rites, May 30. 1744, and was buried at Twickenham. Johnson's Poets.

POPE (Sir Thomas), a statesman, was born at Dedington in Oxfordshire about 1508. He was educated at Eton, from whence he removed to Gray's Inn, where he was called to the bar, after which he became clerk to the crown in Chancery. He was a favourite of Henry VIII., who knighted him and

gave him several lucrative offices and grants of land. Pope was the friend of sir Thomas More, to whom he imparted the intelligence of the hour appointed for his execution. In the next reign he was not employed, but is that of Mary he was entrusted with the care of the princess Elizabeth, towards whom be behaved with great respect, though a rigid Romanist. He died in 1559. Sir Thomas founded Trinity-college, Oxford. — Life by

Warton.

POPE (Walter), a physician, was born at Fawsley in Northamptonshire. He was half brother to Dr. Wilkins bishop of Ches ter, and educated first at Trinity-college, Cambridge, and next at Wadham-college, Oxford, where he obtained a fellowship. In 1660 he was elected Gresham professor of astronomy; and the same year was created doctor of physic. In 1663 he became s member of the Royal Society, and in 1667, registrar of the diocese of Chester. He afterwards lived with bishop Ward, of Salisbury, who left him one hundred a-year; in grati tude for which, Dr. Pope published his Life. He died in 1714. His other works are 1. "Memoirs of Monsieur du Vall, a notorious Highwayman." 2. The "Old Man's Wish," in imitation of Horace, with curious notes. 3. Select Novels from the Spanish and Italian. 4. The Salisbury Ballad, &c. Ward's Gresham Professors.

POPHAM (Sir John), an English judge, was born at Huntworth in Somersetshire in 1531. He became a student of Baliol college, Oxford; from whence he removed to the Middle Temple. After going through the offices of solicitor and attorney-general, he was made chief-justice of the King's Bench and knighted. He died in 1607. works are-1. Reports and Cases, fol. 2. Resolutions and Judgments upon Cases in the Courts of Westminster, 4to. - Wood Bridgman.

His

PORDENONE (John Anthony Licinius), an Italian painter, was born in 1484, near Udino. There was so strong a competition between him and Titian, that Pordenone used to carry arms about him for his defence against the jealousy of his rival. He resided chiefly at Venice, but his frescoes abound in various parts of Italy. He died in 1540. — D'Argenville.

PORPHYRIUS, a philosopher, was born at Tyre, A. D. 233. His original name was Malchus, and he received his education under Origen, after which he went to Athens, where he had Longinus for his instructor, who gave him the name of Porphyrius. At the age of thirty he removed to Rome, and became a hearer of Plotinus, whose life he wrote. He next went to Sicily, whence be is sometimes called Siculus; and here he composed his books against the Christian religion, which are lost. He died at Rome in 304. His existing works are- 1. De abstinentia ab esu animalium. 2. De vita

PORSON (Richard), an eminent critic, was born Dec. 25. 1759, at East Ruston, in Norfolk, where he was first instructed by his father, who was the parish clerk. He next went to the village school, after which the vicar instructed him and his brother in the classics. The proficiency of Richard was so great, that Mr. Norris sent him to Eton in 1774, from whence in 1777 he went to Trinity-college, Cambridge, where he gained a prize medal; and in 1781 was elected to a fellowship. In 1785 he took his master's degree, but having an objection to the church, he was under the necessity of resigning his fellowship, and in 1793, was elected Greek professor. In 1797 he published the "Hecuba" of Euripides, which was followed by the "Orestes;" the "Phanissæ," and "Medea." He contributed assistance also to the Grenville Homer, and published Letters to Travis upon the contested verse, 1 John v. 7. His last literary work was an edition of Eschylus, 2 vols.

8vo.

On the establishment of the London Institution, he was appointed librarian with a salary of two hundred a-year. He died there of an apoplectic stroke, Sept. 19. 1808. His remains were interred in the chapel of Trinity-college. His Tracts and miscellaneous criticisms have been collected and published by Mr. Kidd. Gen. Biog. Dict. PORTA (Baccio della), a painter of Florence, was born in 1469, but his real name is not known. He was also called Fra Bartolomeo di S. Marco, from his entering into the order of Dominicans, but sometimes he is only termed "Il Frate." He studied under Cosimo Roselli, whose manner he quitted for that of Da Vinci. He instructed Raphael in colour, who, in return, gave him lessons in perspective. The subjects of Bartolomeo were all sacred, and painted in a grand style. He died in 1517. - Pilking

PORTA (John Baptista), a mathematician of Naples, was born in 1445. He held literary assemblies in his house till the court of Rome forbad them, as being of a dangerous nature. Baptista, however, established two academies for the advancement of science; and died in 1515. His works are 1. De Magia naturali. 2. De occultis literarum notis. 3. Phytognomica; or a method of knowing the Virtues of Things by their external appearances. 4. De Distillationibus. He is said to have invented the camera obscura, and to have formed the plan of an Encyclopædia. Tiraboschi.

He was

PORTEUS (Beilby), an English prelate, was born at York, May, 8. 1731. educated at Ripon, and next as a sizar at Christ's college, Cambridge, where he obtained a fellowship, and in 1759, gained the

Seatonian prize for a poem on "Death." In 1762 he became chaplain to archbishop Secker, and in 1765 married the daughter of Mr. Hodgson of Ashbourne in Derbyshire. His first preferments were two small livings in Kent, which he exchanged for Hunton in the same county, and a prebend of Peterborough. In 1767 he obtained the rectory of Lambeth, and the same year took his doctor's degree. In 1769 he was made chaplain to the king, and master of the hos pital of St. Cross, near Winchester. Being a favourite with the queen, he was, at her majesty's desire, made bishop of Chester in 1776, from whence in 1787, he was translated to London. He died May 14. 1808, and was buried at Sundridge in Kent, in a chapel built and endowed by himself. His works, consisting of sermons, charges, tracts, speeches, and the life of Secker, have been published, with his memoirs prefixed.

PORTUS (Francis), a learned writer, was born in Candia in 1511. He was educated at Ferrara, where he taught Greek with reputation, till 1561, when he turned protestant, and settled at Geneva. He died in 1581. His works are an edition of Constantine's Lexicon, and notes on Greek authors. His son, Æmilius Portus, taught Greek at Lausanne, and died in 1610. He published some valuable editions of Greek classics. Moreri.

POSSEVIN (Anthony), a Jesuit, was born at Mantua in 1534. Pope Gregory XIII. employed him in several embassies; but having given offence to the court of Spain, he was banished the city of Rome, and died at Ferrara in 1611. His principal works are 1. Bibliotheca selecta de ratione studiorum, 2 vols. folio. 2. Apparatus Sacer, 2 vols. folio. 3. Muscovia, folio. Life by Dorigny.

POSTEL (William), a learned enthusiast, was born in Normandy in 1510. In his youth he supported himself at the college of St. Barbe, by waiting upon the other students. Francis I. afterwards sent him to the East to collect manuscripts, which commission he discharged so well as to be appointed professor of mathematics and languages. After this he fell into disgrace; was deprived of his preferments; and obliged to leave France. Having wandered about from place to place, he was recalled; but lost his appointments again, and died in a monastery in 1581. He pretended to have died, and risen again with the soul of Adam; whence he called himself "Postellus restitutus;" he also maintained, that women shall have the dominion over men; and that his writings were revealed to him by Jesus Christ. His notion of female sovereignty arose from his intimacy with an old woman of Venice; and yet he affirmed, that the extraordinary age which he said he had attained, was occasioned by his abstinence