the famous Athenian orator, was born at Athens 381 B.C. He lost his father at seven years of age; and was placed under the conduct of guardians, who robbed him of his substance, and neglected his education. Demosthenes repaired this loss by his love of eloquence and his extraordinary abilities. He became the disciple of Isocrates, Plato, and Hecus; and made such progress under those excellent masters, that, at 17 years of age, he pleaded against his guardians, and caused them to be sentenced to pay him 30 talents. This was the first time that he distinguished himself by his eloquence, in which he arrived at the highest excellence; though he set out under the greatest disadvantages. For he had an impediment in his speech, which for a long time would not suffer him to pronounce the letter R. He had a weak voice, short breath, and a very uncouth manner. However, by dint of resolution, and infinite pains, he overcame all these defects: See Declamation, N° II. It is universally agreed, that no orator ever spoke with such force, or had the passions of others so much in his power, as Demosthenes. He could dress a thing up in any light he pleased, and give it whatever colouring best answered his purpose; and that with such force of oratory, as bore down, like a thunder-bolt, all before it. Hence Philip king of Macedon said, his eloquence was of more weight against him, than all the fleets and armies of the Athenians; and that he had no enemy but Demosthenes. After the death of Philip, he op- posed Alexander the Great; on which account he was obliged to leave the city: but, after the death of that conqueror, he returned to Athens, where he was received in the most glorious manner, and continued declaiming against the Macedonians. Antipater being informed of this, desired the Athenians to deliver up to him all the orators who had spoken against him; on which Demosthenes withdrew into the isle of Celauria.

Archas coming hither to seize him in behalf of Antipater, he pretended a desire to write to some of his friends; and sucking some poison he had concealed in a pen, died 322 B.C. Many of his orations are still extant, the style of which is grand, sublime, and nervous; and they are all of them master-pieces of eloquence.