(Peter), a French gentleman, born and educated at Rouen in Normandy. Coming over to England on account of the persecution of the Protestants, he became a considerable trader in London, kept an East-India warehouse in Leadenhall-street, and had a gentle place in the general post-office, relating to foreign letters, being master of several languages. He was a man of wit and humour; and acquired so perfect a mastery of the English language, that he not only was qualified to oblige the world with a very good translation of Don Quixote, but also wrote several songs, prologues, epilogues, &c. and what was still more extraordinary, became a very eminent dramatic writer in a language to which he was not a native. He was at last, in the year 1718, found dead in a disorderly house, on his birth-day, when he completed his 58th year.