Jerome, in Latin Magius, one of the most learned men of the 16th century, was born at Angliari in Tuscany. He applied himself to all the sciences, and even to the art of war; and distinguished himself so much in this last study, that the Venetians sent him into the island of Cyprus in quality of judge of the admiralty. When the Turks besieged Famagusta, he performed all the services that could be expected from the most excellent engineer: he invented mines and machines for throwing fire, by means of which he destroyed all the works of the besiegers, and in an instant overthrew what had cost the Turks infinite labour. But they had their revenge; for, taking the city in 1571, they plundered his library, carried him loaded with chains to Constantinople, and treated him in the most inhuman and barbarous manner. He nevertheless comforted himself from the example of Æsop, Menippus, Epictetus, and other learned men; and, after passing the whole day in the meanest drudgery, he spent the night in writing. He composed, by the help of his memory alone, treatises filled with quotations, which he dedicated to the Imperial and French ambassadors. These ministers, moved by compassion for this learned man, resolved to purchase him; but while they were treating for his ransom, Maggi found means to make his escape, and to get to the Imperial ambassador's house; when the grand visir being enraged at his flight, and remembering the great mischief he had done the Turks during the siege of Famagusta, sent to have him seized, and caused him to be strangled in prison in 1572. His principal works are, 1. A Treatise on the Bells of the Ancients. 2. On the Destruction of the World by Fire. 3. Commentaries on Æmilius Probus's Lives of Illustrious Men. 4. Commentaries on the Institutes. These works are written in elegant Latin. He also wrote a treatise on fortification in Italian; and a book on the situation of ancient Tuscany.

He ought not to be confounded with his brother Bartholomew Maggi, a physician at Bologna, who wrote a treatise of gunshot wounds; nor with Vincent Maggi, a native of Bresse, and a celebrated professor of humanity, at Ferrara in Padua, who was the author of several works.

Maggiori, Lake of, a beautiful lake, situated on the confines of Switzerland and Italy, on the south side of the Alps. It is about 50 miles long and 4 or 5 miles broad, and is bent into a very irregular figure. Its height above the level of the sea, according to Count Moroso, is 732 feet. Its greatest known depth is 1800 feet. It receives the waters of the Tesino, Magia, and other rivers from the surrounding mountains. There are several islands in it, and two of these, called the Borromean islands, which have been beautified with gardens and buildings at a great expense, are much admired by travellers.