(James), an eminent French mathematician, born at Bolignieux in Brelle, in 1649, of a wealthy family. His father gave him a good education, and designed him for the church: but some mathematical books falling into his hands, inspired him with a love for that science; and though he had no master to instruct him, he made such progress in it, that, at 15 years of age, he wrote a piece in mathematics, which he thought proper to insert in the works he afterwards published. He at length taught that science at Lyons; and his mathematical lessons brought him in a considerable revenue, till the year 1701: at which period, a war breaking out on the succession to the crown of Spain, he lost almost all his scholars, and was reduced to a very melancholy situation; and his wife dying the same year, he was so afflicted, that he never perfectly recovered it. In 1702 he was admitted into the Royal Academy of Sciences; and died of an apoplexy in 1717.—He was of a mild and serene temper, of singular generosity, and of a cheerful disposition.—He would not allow himself to know more of religion than the common people. He used to say, that "it was the business of the doctors of the Sorbonne to dispute, of the pope to decide, and of a mathematician to go to heaven in a perpendicular line." His works are very numerous, and have met with the approbation of the learned. The principal are, 1. Practical geometry, 12mo. 2. A mathematical dictionary. 3. A course of mathematics, 5 vols, 8vo. 4. Mathematical and philosophical recreations, the most complete edition of which is that of 1724, in 4 vols, 8vo. 5. An easy method of surveying. 6. New elements of algebra, a work much commended by Monsr. Leibnitz. 7. Theoretical and practical perspective, &c.