(from δημος, which denotes a "public servant," and εργον "work"), in the mythology of the eastern philosophers, was one of the aeons employed by the supreme Deity in the creation of the world. He is represented as claiming dominion over the new world he had formed; and excluding totally the supreme Deity from all concern in it.

**DEMOCRACY,** from δημος, "people," and κρατειν, "to command" or "govern;" the same with a popular government, wherein the supreme power is lodged in the hands of the people; such were Rome and Athens of old; but the most perfect example of democracy is afforded by the United States of North America at the present day, the government of which, for the security it gives, the good order it preserves, the small burdens it imposes, and the admirable judgment with which its foreign and domestic policy has been conducted, deserves to be considered as one of the best and wisest in the world. See GOVERNMENT, SUPPLEMENT.

**DEMOCRITUS,** one of the greatest philosophers of antiquity, was born at Abdera, a town of Thrace, about the 80th Olympiad; that is, about 460 years before Christ. His father, says Valerius Maximus, was able to entertain the army of Xerxes; and Diogenes Laertius adds, upon the testimony of Herodotus, that the king, in requital, presented him with some Magi and Chaldeans. From these Magi and Chaldeans Democritus received the first part of his education; and from them, whilst yet a boy, he learned theology and astronomy. He next applied to Leucippus, and learned from him the system of atoms and a vacuum. His father dying, the three sons, for so many there were, divided the estate. Democritus made choice of that part which consisted in money, as being, though the least share, the most convenient for travelling; and it is said, that his portion amounted to above 100 talents, which is near 20,000l. sterling. His extraordinary inclination for the sciences and for knowledge, induced him to travel into all parts of the world where he hoped to find learned men. He went to visit the priests of Egypt, from whom he learned geometry; he consulted the Chaldeans and the Persian philosophers; and it is said that he penetrated even into India and Ethiopia, to confer with the Gymnosophists. In these travels he wasted his substance; after which, at his return, he was obliged to be maintained by his brothers; and if he had not given proofs of the greatest understanding, and thereby procured to himself the highest honours, and the strongest interest of his country, he would have incurred the penalty of that law which denied interment in the family-sepulchre to those who had spent their patrimony. After his return from travelling, he lived at Abdera, and governed there in a most absolute manner, by virtue of his consummate wisdom. The magistrates of that city made him a present of 500 talents, and erected statues to him even in his lifetime: but being naturally more inclined to contemplation than delighted with public honours and employments, he withdrew into solitude and retirement. Democritus incessantly laughed at human life, as a continued farce, which made the inhabitants of Abdera think he was mad; on which they sent Hippocrates to cure him; but that celebrated physician having discoursed with the philosopher, told the Abderians, that he had a great veneration for Democritus; and that in his opinion, those who esteemed themselves the most healthy were the most distempered. Democritus died, according to Diogenes Laertius, in the 361st year before the Christian era, aged 109. It is said that he put out his eyes, in order that he might meditate more profoundly on philosophical subjects; but this has little probability. He was the author of many books, which are lost; and from these Epicurus borrowed his philosophy.

**DEMOIVRE,** ABRAHAM, an eminent mathematician, was born at Vitri in Champagne, May 1667. The revocation of the edict of Nantes, in 1685, determined him to fly into England, rather than abandon the religion of his fathers. He laid the foundation of his mathematical studies in France, and perfected himself at London; where a mediocrity of fortune obliged him to employ his talents in this way, and to read public lectures for his better support. The Principia Mathematica of Newton, which chance is said to have thrown in his way, made him comprehend at once how little he had advanced in the science he professed. He fell hard to work; he succeeded as he went along; and he soon became connected with, and celebrated among, the first-rate mathematicians. His eminence and abilities soon opened to him an entrance into the Royal Society of London, and afterwards into the Academy of Sciences at Paris. His merit was so known and acknowledged by the former, that they judged him a fit person to decide the famous contest between Newton and Leibnitz. The collection of the academy of Paris contains no memoir of this author, who died at London Nov. 1754, soon after his admission into it; but the Philosophical Transactions of London have several, and all of them interesting. He published also some capital works, such as, Miscellanea Analytica, de seriebus et quadraturis, &c. 1730, 4to. But perhaps he has been more generally known by his "Doctrine..." DEMOIVRE of Chances; or, Method of calculating the Probabilities of Events at Play." This work was first printed in 1618, in 4to, and dedicated to Sir Isaac Newton: it was reprinted in 1738, with great alterations and improvements; and a third edition was afterwards published with additions, and "A Treatise on Annuities," dedicated to Lord Carpenter.