(Hugo), or more properly Hugo de Groot, one of the greatest men in Europe, was born at Delft in 1583. He made so rapid a progress in his studies, that at the age of 15 he had attained a great knowledge in philosophy, divinity, and civil law; and a yet greater proficiency in polite literature, as appeared by the commentary he had made at that age on Martianus Capella. In 1598, he accompanied the Dutch ambassador into France, and was honoured with several marks of esteem by Henry IV. He took his degree of doctor of laws in that kingdom; and at his return to his native country, devoted himself to the bar, and pleaded before he was 17 years of age. He was not 24 when he was appointed attorney-general. In 1613 he settled in Rotterdam, and was nominated syndic of that city; but did not accept of the office, till a promise was made him that he should not be removed from it. This prudent precaution he took from his foreseeing, that the quarrels of the divines on the doctrine of grace, which had already given rise to many factions in the state, would occasion revolutions in the chief cities. The same year he was sent into England, on account of the divisions that reigned between the traders of the two nations, on the right of fishing in the northern seas; but he could obtain no satisfaction. He was afterwards sent to England, as it is thought, to persuade the king and the principal divines to favour the Arminians; and he had several conferences with King James on that subject. On his return to Holland, his attachment to Barneveld involved volved him in great trouble; for he was seised, and sentenced to perpetual imprisonment in 1619, and to forfeit all his goods and chattels. But after having been treated with great rigour for above a year and a half in his confinement, he was delivered by the advice and artifice of his wife, who having observed that his keepers had often fatigued themselves with searching and examining a great trunk-full of foul linen which used to be washed at Gorkum, but now let it pass without opening it, she advised him to bore holes in it to prevent his being stifled, and then to get into it. He complied with this advice, and was carried to a friend's house in Gorkum; where dressing himself like a mason, and taking a rule and trowel, he passed through the marketplace, and stepping into a boat went to Valves in Brabant. Here he made himself known to some Arminians, and hired a carriage to Antwerp. At first there was a design of prosecuting his wife, who stood in the prison; and some judges were of opinion that she ought to be kept there in her husband's stead; however, she was released by a plurality of voices, and universally applauded for her behaviour. He now retired into France, where he met with a gracious reception from that court, and Louis XIII. settled a pension upon him. Having resided there eleven years, he returned to Holland, on his receiving a very kind letter from Frederic Henry prince of Orange; but his enemies renewing their persecution, he went to Hamburg; where, in 1634, Queen Christina of Sweden made him her counsellor, and sent him ambassador into France. After having discharged the duties of this office above eleven years, he returned, in order to give an account to Queen Christina of his embassy; when he took Holland in his way, and received many honours at Amsterdam. He was introduced to her Swedish majesty at Stockholm; and there begged that she would grant his dismission, in order that he might return to Holland. This he obtained with difficulty; and the queen gave him many marks of her esteem, though he had many enemies at this court. As he was returning, the ship in which he embarked was cast away on the coast of Pomerania; and being now sick, he continued his journey by land; but was forced to stop at Rofock, where he died, on the 28th of August 1645. His body was carried to Delft, to be interred in the sepulchre of his ancestors. Notwithstanding the embassies in which he was employed, he composed a great number of excellent works; the principal of which are,

1. A treatise De jure belli et pacis, which is esteemed a master-piece. 2. A treatise on the truth of the Christian religion. 3. Commentaries on the holy scriptures. 4. The history and annals of Holland. 5. A great number of letters. All which are written in Latin.