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Aarssen, Frans Van, Dutch diplomatist, was born in 1572. Brought up in the household of the Prince of Orange, he was appointed resident of the United Provinces at the French court in 1598, and subsequently ambassador. After temporary disgrace he was recalled to Holland in 1615, when by his support of Maurice of Nassau, and his hostility to the noble Barneveldt, in whose prosecution he took a leading part, he rendered himself very unpopular. When Maurice became supreme Aarssen was employed in various missions, and was twice sent to England, in 1626 and 1640. Died, 1641.

Abate, Andrea, a Neapolitan artist, who, as a painter of fruit and objects of still life, acquired great celebrity. He was employed, together with Luca Giordano, in adorning the Escurial for Charles II. of Spain. Died, 1732. Abati, Nicolo, more frequently, but erroneously, called DELL' ABATE, a renowned painter in fresco. Born at Modena, 1512; died at Paris, 1571. His best works were at Bologna and Modena, but few of them are now extant. Several of his relations also distinguished themselves as painters.

Abauzit, Firmin, a French scholar. Born at Uzes in 1679. His mother, in order to secure his education in the Protestant faith, sent him, at two years of age, to Geneva, After finishing his studies he went to Holland, and from thence to England, where he formed an intimacy with Sir Isaac Newton, by whom he was much esteemed. He was highly panegyrised by Voltaire and Rousseau. Though he published little,

ABBOT

he acquired among literary men a character for profound learning and sound judgment, Died at Geneva in 1767.

Abbadie, Jacques, an eminent Protestant divine, who accompanied Marshal Schomberg to England in 1688, and was present when that great commander fell at the battle of the Boyne. On his return to London he was appointed minister of the French church in the Savoy, and was subsequently made dean of Killaloe, He wrote many works, chiefly theological and in the French language; the most esteemed of which are 'Art de se connaître soi-même,' and

Traité de la Vérité de la Religion Chrétienne.' Born at Nay, in Béarn, in 1658; died in London, 1727.

Abbas, the uncle of Mohammed, of whom, though opposed to him at first, he became a disciple, and served in his army as a general, He died in the 32nd year of the Hegira-A.D.

653.

Abbas, Shah, the Great, King of Persia, succeeded to the throne in 1586. He made war on the Usbeks, and conquered Khorasan. He put an end to the war with the Turks by ceding to them Armenia and other provinces, first transporting the Armenians into Persia. In 1590 he made Ispahan the seat of government, and greatly improved and adorned it. With the help of the English he drove the Portuguese from Bender-Abassi and the Isle of Ormuz, and by other conquests enlarged his dominions. Abbas had some qualities which justified his title 'Great,' but these were mixed with other and vicious qualities. While he was brave, a patron of commerce and the arts, and an efficient ruler, he was also cruel, suspicious, jealous of those who served him well, a merciless taxgatherer, and unscrupulous in putting to death the objects of his suspicion. Died, 1628.

Abbiati, Filippo, an historical painter, of some eminence. Born at Milan in 1640; died there in 1715.

Abbot, Charles. [Colchester, Lord.]

Abbot, George, archbishop of Canterbury in the reigns of James I. and Charles I., and one of the most active political characters of that period. He was born in 1562, at Guildford in Surrey, where his father was a weaver and clothworker. After receiving his education at the grammar school in that town, he was sent to Baliol College, Oxford; and became successively master of University college, dean of Winchester, vice-chancellor of Oxford, bishop of Lichfield and Coventry, then of London, and lastly, in 1610, primate of all England. Archbishop Abbot was throughout his life the bitter political and ecclesiastical rival and enemy of Laud. Although he at first distinguished himself by a rigorous maintenance of the doctrines of divine right and passive obedience, he became, after the accession of Charles I., whom he crowned at Westminster, a steady and resolute opponent of the despotic measures of the king. In 1622 an event occurred, which for a time caused his suspension from the archiepiscopal office; being at the seat of Lord Zouch in Hampshire, while on a hunting party, he accidentally shot one of his lordship's keepers. He was the author of several theological works; and was one of the eight divines, who, in 1604, by the order of James I., made the translation of the Bible now in use. He died at Croydon in 1633, and was buried in his native town, where he had founded and liberally endowed a hospital.

Abbot, Robert, bishop of Salisbury, and elder brother of the above. He was an eminent divine, and famous for his skill in conducting polemical discussions and vindicating the supremacy of kings. Born, 1560; died, 1617. Dr. Fuller, speaking of the two brothers, says, George was the more plausible preacher, Robert the greatest scholar; George the abler statesman, Robert the deeper divine; gravity did frown in George, and smile in Robert.'

Abbot, Lemuel Francis, an English portrait painter of the 18th century, was the son of a clergyman in Leicestershire. He was for a short time the pupil of Hayman, and settled in London. He appears to have had little skill beyond that of catching likenesses. Among the best of his works are his portraits of Cowper and Lord Nelson. The latter is now in the Naval Gallery, Greenwich Hospital. His portrait of Alexander Hood, Viscount Bridport, is in the National Portrait Gallery. Abbot died insane, in 1803, about 40 years of age.

Abbot, Charles. [Tenterden, Lord.] Abdallah, the father of Mohammed. [See Mohammed.]

Abdallatiph, a Persian historian, born at Baghdad in 1161. He is said to have been a man of great learning and a voluminous writer; but the only one of his works much known in Europe is an abridged history of Egypt, entitled Al-kital Alsager,' or the little book, which was published from a MS. in the Bodleian Library, by Professor White, in 1800. Abdalrahman (Abderahman), Ben Abdallah,governor of Spain under the Caliphs,

early distinguished himself in ar appointed by Yezid, about 721, to ment of Spain. Recalled to Dan months later, he was again sent to and formed the project of conqueri the Franks. He first made war Moorish chief, Munuza, who had a with Eudes, duke of Aquitaine; ar duing him, he passed the Pyren Rhone, took Arles, defeated Eudes, and ravaged Aquitaine and Burg vancing, as it might well seem, to t of Europe, Abderahman was enco tween Tours and Poitiers, by the der Charles Martel and Eudes, in After six days of desultory combat battle took place, the Saracens wer feated and their great captain killed not again attempt the conquest of

Abdalrahman, Ben Moawiy Cordova and first Ommyade Calip was born at Damascus about 731. by flight the massacre of his family after many wanderings passed i whence, in 755, he crossed to Spain herents soon became numerous, and following year he was proclaimed k ceived as such at Seville. Having governor, Yusef, he made Cordova and was soon master of all Mohamm His reign was disturbed by frequent by wars with the kings of Leon. It this caliph that, in 778, Charles (Charlemagne) undertook the exp famous in romance, which resulted porary occupation of Navarre and par by the Franks, and ended with th Roncesvalles. Abdalrahman built palace at Cordova, and the famous n of which remains and forms the C Cordova. Died, probably about 78

Abdul Medjid, sultan of Turk Mahmoud II., was born in 1823. H his father in 1839, while Mehem carrying on war against him. A after his accession he published an e lishing certain civil reforms. By th tion of the chief European powers Ali was reduced to submission and a arrangement of the quarrel effecte Much opposition was made to the S jects of reform, especially to his co privileges to his Christian subjects, a sition was one of very great difficult tained great popularity in Western his courageous and generous protec Hungarian refugees, in 1849. The of his reign was the Crimean war France and England allied thems Turkey against the encroachments and which was terminated by the fal topol after a long siege, in 1856.

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A Beckett, Gilbert Abbot, a dis humourist and satirical writer, wa London in 1811, and educated at W While engaged in prosecuting his le he wrote numerous pieces for the st