(Bartholomew d'), a French writer, eminent for his oriental learning, was born at Paris in 1625. He travelled several times into Italy, where he obtained the esteem of some of the most learned men of the age. Ferdinand II., grand duke of Tuscany, gave him many marks of his favour: a library being exposed to sale at Florence, the duke desired him to examine the manuscripts in the oriental languages, to select the best of them, and to mark the price; which being done, that generous prince purchased them, and made him a present of them. M. Colbert being at length informed of Herbelot's merit, recalled him to Paris, and obtained a pension for him of 1500 livres: he afterwards became secretary and interpreter of the oriental languages, and royal professor of the Syriac tongue. He died at Paris in 1695. His principal work is intitled Bibliothèque Orientale, which he first wrote in Arabic, and afterwards translated into French. It is greatly esteemed. M. Herbelot's modesty was equal to his erudition; and his uncommon abilities were accompanied with the utmost probity, piety, and charity, which he practised throughout the whole course of his life.