PETER, a learned physician, was the son of James Borel who published several poems, and was born at Castres about 1620. He applied himself to the study of physic, of which he was created doctor, and practised with great success in the town of Castres. Towards the end of the year 1653 he went to Paris, where he was soon after named counsellor and 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 principal are, 1. Historiarum et Observationum medico-physicarum Centuria quinque, Castres, 1653, 12mo; 2. Bibliotheca Chimica, Paris, 1654, 12mo; 3. De vero Telescopii inventore, cum brevi omnium conspiciendarum historia, Hague, 1655, 4to; 4. Hortus seu Armamentarium Simplicium, plantarum, et animalium ad Artem medicam spectantium, Castres, 1666, 8vo; 5. Observationum Microscopicarum Centuria; Hague, 1656, 4to. He was also the author of several works in French, particularly two treatises on Antiquities, and a discourse on the Plurality of Worlds.