MICHAEL, a celebrated naturalist, was born at Aix in Provence in the year 1727. He was sent to Paris in early life, and devoted his studies with great assiduity to medicine, botany, and astronomy, and was a pupil of the celebrated Reaumur. He went to Senegal in the year 1748, where he remained six years examining the natural productions of that country. He presented the fruits of his discoveries in geography and natural history to the Royal Academy; and in consequence of these communications he was appointed one of their corresponding members. In the year 1759, on the death of Reaumur he was elected a member in his place; and about the same time he was admitted an honorary member of the Royal Society of London. Having spent six years in Senegal, he returned to Paris, where he published a work entitled Histoire Naturelle du Senegal, in 4to; and in 1763 his Familles des Plantes, 2 vols 8vo. In the year 1773 he presented to the academy the plan of a natural history, which he did not live to execute. He died on the 3d of August 1806. See ADANSON, M. SUPPLEMENT.