PETIS DE LA CROIX, FRANÇOIS, a great oriental scholar, was the son of François Petit, the French king's interpreter for the Oriental languages, and was born in Paris in 1653. His education was conducted with the view of fitting him for succeeding his father. He was first instructed in mathematics, astronomy, geography, design, and the eastern languages. Then the famous minister Colbert despatched him, when only sixteen, to complete his education in the East. He sojourned for three years and a half at Aleppo, familiarizing himself with the language and literature of the Arabs. The next two years were spent at Ispahan in the study of the Persian dialects, politics, arts, and sciences. He wound up this long and thorough course of training by applying himself for four years at Constantinople to the language and diplomacy of the Turks. Soon after his return to France in 1680, Petit entered upon a new career as secretary-interpreter to the marine. In this capacity his aid was employed in all the negotiations which France at that time transacted with the Eastern courts. He was engaged in forming treaties with Algiers in 1684, with Tunis and Tripoli in 1685, and with Morocco in 1687. The closing, like the opening part of Petit's career, was devoted to linguistic pursuits. He began to officiate as Arabic professor to the Collège Royal in 1692, and as Oriental interpreter to the king in 1695. At the same time his pen was actively employed in connection with his favourite studies. He published Histoire de la Sultane de Perse et des Vizirs, a translation from Sheikh Zadeh, in 12mo, 1707; and Les Mille et Un Jours, a translation from the Persian, in 5 vols. 12mo, Paris, 1710-12. Another translation, entitled Histoire de Timur Bee, in 4 vols. 12mo, appeared in 1722, nine years after his death. He also left behind him in manuscript several works on history, geography, and the Oriental languages, a list of which is given in Goujet's Mémoire sur le Collège Royal. (See Biographie Universelle.)