the fourth of the greater prophets, was born in Judea of the tribe of Judah, about the 25th year of the reign of Josiah. He was led captive to Babylon, with other young Hebrew lords, after the taking of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar, who took them into his service. That prince gave them matters to instruct them in the language and sciences of the Chaldeans, and ordered them to be fed with the most delicate viands; but they, fearing that they should eat meat forbidden by the law of Moses, desired the king's officers to allow them only pulse. The wisdom and conduct of Daniel pleasing Nebuchadnezzar, that prince gave him several posts of honour. It is commonly believed, that this prophet, when but 12 years of age, made known the innocence of the chaste Susannah; but the learned are not agreed, that the young Daniel, who confounded the old men, was the same with this prophet. However, he explained Nebuchadnezzar's dream of the mysterious statue, which foretold the four great monarchies; on which account he was made prefect of the province of Babylon. In the reign of Darius the king of the Medes, he refused to adore the golden statue of the king, and was cast into the lions' den, where those beasts, tho' pinched with hunger, did him no manner of hurt. And he explained the characters written on the wall of the room where Belshazzar was feasting.

It is believed that Daniel died in Chaldea, and that he did not take advantage of the permission granted by Cyrus to the Jews of returning to their own country. St Epiphanius says he died at Babylon; and herein he is followed by the generality of historians. The first six chapters of the book of Daniel are an history of the kings of Babylon, and what befell the captive Jews under their government. In the six last he is altogether prophetical, foretelling not only what should happen to his own church and nation, but events in which foreign princes were concerned; particularly the rise and downfall of the four secular monarchies of the world, and the establishment of the fifth, or spiritual kingdom of the Messiah. "Amongst the old prophets (says the great Sir Isaac Newton), Daniel is the most distinct in the order of time, and easiest to be understood; and therefore, in these things which relate to the last times, he must be made key to the rest.—His prophecies are all of them related to one another, as if they were but several parts of one general prophecy. The first is the easiest to be understood, and every following prophecy adds something to the former."

Daniel (Samuel), an eminent poet and historian, was born near Taunton in Somersetshire in the year 1562, and educated at Oxford; but leaving that university without a degree, he applied himself to English history and poetry under the patronage of the earl of Pembroke's family. He was afterwards tutor to the lady Ann Clifford; and, upon the death of Spencer, was created poet-laureat to queen Elizabeth. In king James's reign he was appointed gentleman extraordinary, and afterwards one of the grooms of the privy-chamber, to the queen consort, who took great delight in his conversation and writings. He wrote an history of England, several dramatic pieces, and some poems; and died in 1619.

Daniel (Gabriel), a celebrated Jesuit, and one of the best French historians, was born at Rouen in 1649. He taught polite literature, philosophy, and divinity, among the Jesuits; and was superior of their house at Paris, where he died in 1728. There are a great number of his works published in French, of which the principal are, 1. An History of France, of which he also wrote an abridgment in nine volumes 12mo. 2. An history of the French Militia, in 2 vols 4to. 3. An answer to the Provincial Letters. 4. A voyage to the World of Descartes. 5. Letters on the doctrines of the Theorists, and on Probability. 6. New difficulties relating to the knowledge of Brutes; and, 7. A theological treatise on the Efficacy of Grace.