MACPHERSON, David, sub-commissioner of the public records, died in 1816; having lished "Geographical Illustrations of Scottish History," "Annals of Commerce," and "History of the European Commerce with India," MACPHERSON, James, a Scotch gentleman, distinguished in the literary world by the publication of what he called a Translation of the poems of Ossian, the son of Fingal, which ap-. peared in the year 1762, and excited a long and MACKLAINE, Archibald, a pious divine, acrimonious controversy respecting their authen born in Ireland, in 1722, but educated at Glas- ticity. Mr. Macpherson also published a transgow. He was pastor of the English congre-lation of the "Iliad," in heroic prose;" "A gation at the Hague from 1745 till 1794, when History of Great Britain from the Restoration, the French invasion induced him to leave Hol-in 1660 to the Accession of the House of Hanoland, and he settled at Bath, where he died in ver," and "Original State Papers from the 1804. His best known work is a translation of Stuart and Hanover Collections." He was Mosheim's "Ecclesiastical History." born in 1738, and died in 1796: MACPHERSON, sir John, governor general of India, died in England, in 1821.

MAGNON, John, a French poet, who formed ans. It is the universal doctrine of the Man a plan of writing an Encyclopedia in verse; he metans that their religion is to be propagated was murdered in 1662 by the sword, and that all true mussulinen are MAGNUS, John, archbishop of Upsal, who bound to fight for it. To reconcile the minds warmly opposed the reformation in Sweden, of which country he wrote a history in 24 books; he died in 1544.

them both together to all his successors, who by the title of caliphs reigned after him. He died Sept. 12, 632, in consequence of having, 3 years before, eaten of a shoulder of mutton which had been poisoned by a daughter of his host, at Caibar." He was buried in the place where he died, which was in the chamber of his best-beloved wife, at Medina, where he lies to this day.

MAHOMET I., emperor of the Turks, was son of Bajazet I., and succeeded his brother Moses, whom he slew in 1413. He restored the power of the Ottomans to its ancient glory.

of the cowardly, and add vigour to the brave, he invented his doctrine of fate and destiny telling them, that those who were slain in battle, though they had tarried at home in their houses, must, nevertheless, have died at that moment, the time of every man's life being predetermin ed by God; but that those who died fighting for the faith, gained the advantage of dying mar tyrs for their religion, and immediately entered MAIIOMET, or MOHAMMED, a celebrated into Paradise, as the reward of it. Having at impostor, and founder of the Mahometan reli- length been established in the temporal sove gion, born in 571, at Mecca, a city of Arabia, reignty, which he had long been aiming at, Ma of the tribe of the Korashites, which was reck-homet assumed all the insignia belonging there oned the noblest in all that country, and was de- to; still retaining the sacred character of chief scended in a direct line from Pher Koraish, the pontiff of his religion, as well as the royal with founder of it. In his 40th year he began to which he had been invested. He transmitted take upon him the style of the Apostle of God, and under that character to propagate the imposture which he had concerted. On his first appearance, he was treated with derision and contempt, and called by the people, a sorcerer, magician, liar, impostor, and teller of fables, of which he frequently complains in the Koran; so that for the first year he made little or no progress; but persevering in his design, which he managed with great address, he afterwards gained many proselytes, among which were some of the most considerable men of the city. The main arguments which Mahomet used to delude men into a belief of this imposture, were pro- MAHOMET II., the 11th sultan of the Turks mises and threats, being those which he knew was born at Adrianople, in 1420; and is to be would work the easiest on the affections of the remembered chiefly for taking Constantinople, vulgar. His promises were chiefly of paradise; in 1453, and thereby driving many learned which with great art he framed agreeably to the Greeks into the West, which was a great cause customs and taste of the Arabians: for they, ly-of the restoration of learning in Europe, as the ing within the torrid zone, were, through the Greek literature was then introduced there, He nature of their climate, as well as the then ex- was the first of the Ottoman emperors whom cessive corruption of their manners, exceeding the Western nations dignified with the title of ly given to the love of women; and the scorch-Grand Seignior, or Great Turk; which posteriing heat and dryness of the country making ri- ty has preserved to his descendants. He died vers of water, cooling drinks, shaded gardens, in 1481. and pleasant fruits, most refreshing and delightful to them, they were from hence apt to place their highest enjoyment in things of this nature; and therefore, to answer the height of their carnal desires, he made the joys of heaven to consist totally in these particulars, which he promises them abundantly in many places of the Koran. On the contrary, he described the punishments of hell, which he threatened to all who would not believe in him, to consist of such torments as would appear to them the most afflicting and grievous to be borne: as that they should drink nothing but boiling and stinking water, nor breathe any thing but exceeding hot winds, things most terrible in Arabia; that they should MAHUDEL, Nicholas, a physician, at Paris, dwell for ever in continual fire, intensely burn-author of a "Dissertation on the ancient Spaing, and be surrounded with a black, hot, salt nish Money" He died in 1747.

quired eminence by his treatises on the Nervous Fluid, and on Magnetism; he died in 1787,

MAIRET, John, a French poet, patronised, by cardinals Richelieu and La Valette; he died in 1686.

MAISIERES, Philip de, who was made counsellor of state by Charles V., and governor of the dauphin. Disgusted with the world he retired from it, and died in 1405.

MAISTRE, Anthony le, born in Paris, retiring from the bar, he led a life of austerity, and wrote the life of St. Bernard, &c.; he died in 1658.

MAISTRE, Lewis Isaac le. He took orders, but being suspected of Jansenism, he was thrown into the bastile, where he translated the Bible, with annotations, in 32 vols. 8vo; he died in 1684.

MAILLEBOIS, N. count de, lieutenant general in the French armies, distinguished himself MAITLAND, John, lord of Thyrlestane. He in the German wars; and died in 1792. practised law with great success, and was by MAILLEBOIS, John Baptist Desmarets, dis-James VI., made secretary of state, and the tinguished himself in the wars of Spain and Italy, and the conquest of Corsica, for which he was made marshal of France; he died in 1762. MAILLET, Benedict de, a learned French-" man, for 16 years consul general, in Egypt, and author of an account of that country; he died in 1738

iord chancellor of the kingdom; he died in 1595 MAITLAND, William, a voluminous writer, who published histories of "Scotland" and London," was born in 1693, and died in 1757. MAITTAIRE, Michael, a learned editor of the Latin and Greek classics, born in London, in 1668, died in 1747.

MAIMBOURG, Lewis, a French divine, cele- MAIUS, or MAY, John Henry, a Lutheran brated in the republic of letters, born in 1610, divine, of Germany, professor of oriental landied in 1686. He wrote the "History of Ari-guages at several universities, and author of anism, of the Croisades, of the Decay of the several works; he died in 1719. Empire, of Lutheranism, of Calvinism, of the Pontificate of St. Leo" and was composing the "History of the Schism of England" when be died.

MAJOR, John an eminent English divine, divinity professor, and provost of the university of St. Andrews. He wrote several works in Latin, and died about 1550.

MAIMONIDES, Moses, or Moses the son of MAJOR, John Daniel, a native of Breslaw, Maimon, a celebrated rabbi, called by the Jews and medical professor at Kiel, where he foundThe Eagle of the Doctors, born in Spain, ined a botanical garden. He wrote on natural 1131, died in 1201. Of the works of Maimoni-history, and died in 1693.

des, the most considerable is his "Jad," which MAJORAGIUS, Mark Anthony, professor of has always been esteemed a great and useful belles lettres, and author of some learned comwork, being a complete code or pandect of Jew-mentaries; he died in 1555. ish law, digested into a clear and regular form, and illustrated throughout with intelligent comments of his own.

MAINFROY, prince of Tarento, and king of Sicily by usurpation. He besieged Rome, but was afterwards defeated and slain, in 1266.

MAJORIANUS, Julius Valerius, emperor of the West, was successful in his war against the Vandals. He was universally respected for his virtues; but was murdered in 461.

MAKIN, Thomas, one of the first settlers of Pennsylvania, known as the author of two Latin MAINTENON, Francis d' Aubigne, Mad-poems, published in 1728.

ame de, wife of Scarron, the French poet, and MALACHI, the last of the 12 minor prophets. afterwards of Louis XIV.; she was born in the He foretold chiefly the coming of John the prison at Niort, in 1635. She founded the cele-Baptist.

brated convent of St. Cyr, at Versailles, for the MALACHY, St., a learned Irish bishop, who maintenance of 36 nuns, ladies of quality, and died in 1148.

24 assistant sisters. Upon this foundation, MALAGRIDA, Gabriel, an Italian jesuit, for which the king sufficiently endowed, 300 young a long time regarded as a saint, and consulted ladies of distinction were received and educa-as an oracle. He was afterwards burnt alive, ted gratis. Her life of penitential piety after her in 1761, at the age of 75, as a false prophet. marriage atoned for her ingratitude to madame MALAVAL, Francis, a Frenchman, who de Montespan, who raised her from indigence, although he lost his sight when only nine months and whom she supplanted; her extensive chari-old, acquired celebrity as a mystical writer on ty to the poor, and exemplary life, from this quietism; he died in 1719. period, made amends to society; she died in 1719.

MAIRAN, John James d'Ortons de, a French philosopher, who succeeded Fontenelle, as se cretary to the academy of sciences. He was author of a "Treatise on Phosphoric Light," &c., and died in 1771.

MAIRE, John le, a French poet, who wrote some indecent allegories, and died about 1548. MAIRE, James le, a Dutch navigator, who in 1616, sailed to South America, New-Guinea, and Batavia; he died in 1617.

MALAVAL, John, a native of Pezan, who gained eminence at Paris, as a surgeon; he died in 1758.

MALBONE, Edward G., a distinguished miniature painter, born at Rhode-Island; he died in 1807.

MALCOLM IV., grandson of David, king of Scotland. He was a liberal and benevolent prince, and founded several monasteries; he died in 1165.

MALCOLM, James Peller, a native of Ame rica, who went to England, and studied painting MAIRE, N. le, a surgeon of Lyons, who ac-at the Royal Academy; but afterwards took to