(Peter), one of the most celebrated philosophers France has produced, was born at Chantefier, about three miles from Digne in Provence, in 1592. When a child, he took particular delight in gazing at the moon and stars as often as they appeared in clear unclouded weather. This pleasure frequently drew him into bye-places, in order to feast his eye freely and undisturbed; by which means his parents had him often to seek, not without many anxious fears and apprehensions. They therefore put him to school at Digne; where, in a short time, he made such an extraordinary progress in learning, that some persons, who had seen specimens of his genius, resolved to have him removed to Aix, in order to study philosophy under Fesay, a learned minor friar. This proposal was so disagreeable to his father, who intended to breed him up in his own way to country-business, as being more profitable than that of a scholar, that he would consent to it only upon condition that he should return home in two years at farthest. Accordingly young Gassendi, at the end of the appointed time, repaired to Chantefier: but he had not been long there when he was invited to be professor of rhetoric at Digne, before he was quite 16 years of age; and he had been engaged in that office but three years, when his master Fesay dying, he was made professor in his room at Aix. When he had been there a few years, he composed his Paradoxical Exercitations; which, coming to the hands of Nicholas Peirece, that great patron of learning joined with Joseph Walter prior of Valette in promoting him; and he having entered into holy orders, was first made canon of the church of Digne and doctor of divinity, and then obtained the wardenship or rectorship of that church. Gassendi's fondness for astronomy grew up with his years; and his reputation daily increasing, he was in 1645 appointed royal professor of mathematics at Paris. This institution being chiefly designed for astronomy, our author read lectures on that science to a crowded audience. However, he did not hold this place long; for a dangerous cough and inflammation of the lungs obliged him, in 1647, to return to Digne for the benefit of his native air.—Gassendi wrote against the metaphysical meditations of Des Cartes; and divided with that great man the philosophers of his time, almost all of whom were Cartesians or Gassendians. He joined to his knowledge of philosophy and the mathematics an acquaintance with the languages and a profound erudition. He wrote, 1. Three volumes on Epicurus's Philosophy; and five others, which contain his own philosophy. 2. Astronomical Works. 3. The Lives of Nicholas de Peirece, Epicurus, Copernicus, Tycho Brahe, Purbachius, and Regiomontanus. 4. Epistles, and other treatises. All his works were collected together, and printed at Lyons in 1658, in six volumes folio. He died at Paris in 1655, aged 63.