PROSPERO, in Latin, Prosper Alpinus, a celebrated physician and botanist, was born at Marostica in the republic of Venice in November 1553. In his early years his inclination led him to the profession of arms, and he served some time in the Milanese. By the encouragement and persuasion of his father, who was a physician, he retired from the army, and devoted his attention to literature. To prosecute his studies with more advantage, he went to the university of Padua, where he was soon after elected deputy to the rector and syndic to the students. But in the discharge of his official duties, which was distinguished by prudence and address, he was not prevented from pursuing the study of physic which he had chosen. He continued his medical studies with zeal and success; and after having acquired the necessary qualifications, he was admitted to the degree of doctor of medicine in 1578. Soon after he left the university, and settled as a physician in consequence of an invitation from the citizens in Campo San Pietro, a small town in the Paduan territory.

In the course of his studies he had paid particular attention to plants, and had become an enthusiast in botanical science. The sphere of his present practice was too limited to afford him much opportunity of prosecuting his favourite study. He wished particularly to extend his knowledge of exotic plants; and the only means to attain this, he thought, was to study their economy and habits in their native soil. And to gratify this laudable curiosity an opportunity soon presented itself. George Emo, the consul for the Venetian republic in Egypt, appointed Alpini his physician. They sailed from Venice in September 1580; and after having experienced a tedious and dangerous voyage, arrived at Grand Cairo in the beginning of July the following year. Alpini spent three years in Egypt, and, by his industry and assiduity, greatly improved his botanical knowledge. With this view he travelled along the banks of the Nile, visited every place, and consulted every person from whom he expected any new information. From a practice in the management of date trees, which he observed in this country, Alpini seems to have deduced the doctrine of the sexual difference of plants, which was adopted as the foundation of the celebrated system of Linnaeus. He says, "That the female date trees, or palms, do not bear fruit, unless the branches of the male and female plants are mixed together; or, as is generally done, unless the dust found in the male sheath, or male flowers, is sprinkled over the female flowers."

When Alpini returned to Venice in 1586 he was appointed physician to Andrea Doria prince of Melfi, and during his residence at Genoa, acquired so great a name as to be esteemed the first physician of his age. The Venetians became jealous that the Genoese state should number among its citizens a person of such distinguished merit and reputation, whose services might be essentially beneficial, and whose fame might be highly honourable, to his native country. In the year 1593, he was recalled to fill the botanical chair in the university of Padua, with a salary of 200 florins, which was afterwards augmented to 750. He discharged the duties of his professorship for many years with great reputation, till his declining health interrupted his labours. He died in the year 1617, in the 64th year of his age, and was succeeded as botanical professor by one of his sons. Alpini wrote the following works in Latin: 1. De Medicina Ægyptiorum, libri iv. "Of the Physic of the Egyptians, in four books;" printed at Venice, 1592, in 4to. 2. De Plantis Ægypti liber: "A treatise concerning the plants of Egypt;" printed at Venice, 1592, in 4to. 3. De Balsamo Dialogus: "A dialogue concerning the Balm of Gilead;" printed at Venice, 1592, in 4to. 4. De Prossagendi vita et morbi ægrotantium libri vii: "Seven books concerning the method of forming a judgment of the life or death of patients;" printed at Venice, 1691, in 4to. 5. De Medicina methodica, libri xiii: "Thirteen books concerning Methodical Physic;" Padua, 1611, folio; Leyden, 1719, in 4to. 6. De Rhapontico Disputatio: "A disputation held in the school at Padua concerning the Rhaponticum;" Padua, 1612, and 1629, in 4to. 7. De Plantis Exoticiis, libri ii: "Of exotic plants, in two books;" Venice, 1699, in 4to. He left several other works, which have never been printed; particularly, 8. The fifth book concerning the physic of the Egyptians. 9. Five books concerning the natural history of things observed in Egypt, adorned with figures of plants, stones, and animals. (Biog. Dict.)