Peter, a learned physician, was the son of James Borel who published several poems, and was born at Castres in 1620. He applied himself to the study of physic, of which he was created doctor, and practised with great success in the city of Castres. Towards the end of the year 1653, he went to Paris, and was soon after made physician in ordinary to the king. In 1674, he was received into the academy of sciences, and distinguished himself by writing a great number of works. The most esteemed are, 1. Historiarum et observationum medico-physicarum centuriae quinque. 2. Bibliotheca chymica, duodecimo. 3. De vero telescopii inventore, cum brevi omnium confipieorium historia. He died in 1678.

BORRELLI, John Alphonso, a famous philosopher and mathematician, born at Naples on the 28th of January 1608. He was professor of philosophy and mathematics in some of the most celebrated universities of Italy, particularly at Florence and Pisa, where he became highly in favour with the princes of the house of Medicis; but having been engaged in the revolt of Messina, he was obliged to retire to Rome, where he spent the remainder of his life under the protection of Christina queen of Sweden, who honoured him with her friendship, and by her liberality towards him softened the rigour of his hard fortune. He continued two years in the convent of the regular clergy of St Pantaleon, called the pious schools, where he instructed the youth in mathematical studies. He died there of a pleurisy, the 31st of December 1679, in the 72d year of his age. He wrote in Latin, 1. Euclid restored. 2. The theory of the influence of the planets in medicine, deduced from physical causes. 3. Of persuasive force. 4. Of natural motions depending upon gravity. 5. An historical and meteorological account of the burning of Mount Etna, in the year 1669. 6. Of the motion of animals; and several other works, some of which are in Italian.