BORELLI, JOHN ALPHONSO, a famous philosopher and mathematician, born at Naples on the 28th of January 1608. He was professor of philosophy and mathematics in some of the most celebrated universities of Italy, particularly at Florence and Pisa, where he became highly in favour with the princes of the house of Medicis; but having been engaged in the revolt of Messina, he was obliged to retire to Rome, where he spent the remainder of his life under the protection of Christina queen of Sweden, who honoured him with her friendship, and by her liberality towards him softened the rigour of his hard fortune. He continued two years in the convent of the regular clergy of St Pantaleon, called the pious schools, where he instructed the youth in mathematical studies. He died there of a pleurisy, the 31st of December 1679, in the 72d year of his age. He wrote in Latin, 1. Euclid restored. 2. The theory of the influence of the planets in medicine, deduced from physical causes. 3. Of percussive force. 4. Of natural motions depending upon gravity. 5. An historical and meteorological account of the burning of Mount Ætna, in the year 1669. 6. Of the motion of animals; and several other works, some of which are in Italian.