NATHANIEL, the author of a History of Rome, was born in Ireland, but in what year is unknown. His Roman History embraces the period extending from the foundation of the city to the time of Augustus. It was published in 4 vols. 4to, at intervals of nearly forty years between the appearance of the first and last volumes. He had died before the publication of vols. 3 and 4. His work possesses the virtues of acuteness and clearness. In opposition to Middleton, he defended the cause of the Plebeians against the Patricians. Hooke was a zealous Catholic. When Pope was dying, a priest was brought to hear his confession and grant him absolution. This priest was brought by Hooke. He had been employed and well paid by the Duchess of Marlborough for assisting her in writing her memoirs, but he was so zealous in attempting to convert the Duchess to Catholicism that a quarrel was the consequence. He was one of the sufferers from the South Sea Bubble. Besides his Roman History, he wrote Observations upon the Roman Senate, 4to, 1758, in which he advocated and extended the political views propounded in his History. He also translated from the French the Vie de Fénelon, and Ramsay's Voyages de Cyrus. He died in July 1763.

ROBERT, one of the most ingenious philosophers, was born July 18, 1635, at Freshwater, in the Isle of Wight. His father was a clergyman, and he himself was originally destined for the church, but his studies were interrupted by weakly health. His leisure hours were spent in devising mechanical contrivances, and his construction of a wooden clock was a premonition of one sphere in which he was to excel. In 1648 his father died. After having been some time with Lely the painter, he went to Westminster School, and was initiated in mathematics and the learned languages, including Hebrew. In 1653 he went to Christ's Church College, Oxford. He appears to have turned his attention somewhat eagerly towards devising a method by which men should be able to elevate themselves in the air like birds, but without success. In 1655 he became assistant to Dr Willis in chemistry, and soon afterwards to the Honourable Robert Boyle. To the latter he was very serviceable in constructing the air-pump. In 1664 Sir John Cutler founded a mechanic school, of which in the beginning of next year Hooke was made Curator of Experiments for life. In 1666 he produced a model for rebuilding London after the great fire, but however much it was approved of, it was not carried into execution. Hooke, however, was employed as one of the surveyors—a post which was very lucrative. In 1677, by the death of Mr Oldenburgh, the office of secretary to the Royal Society became vacant, and Hooke was appointed to it. In 1687, after the death of his niece, who had lived with him, he was overwhelmed with grief. It affected his temper as well as his spirits, and his moodiness was still farther increased by a chancery suit between him and Sir John Cutler. In 1691, a warrant from Archbishop Tillotson conferred on him the degree of doctor of physic. In 1696 the chancery suit was determined in his favour. He died at his lodgings at Gresham College, March 3, 1702, and was buried in St Helen's Church, Bishopsgate Street, his remains being followed to the grave by all the members of the Royal Society. Hooke was remarkably inventive, but being also ambitious and jealous, he laid claim to inventions which had been made independently of him; and, distrustful, he accused others of making known his discoveries to rivals. His personal appearance was mean, he being short of stature, crooked, lean, and pale. His lank brown hair he allowed to grow long, and to hang over his face. He was penurious; and his melancholy and meagre appearance were rendered worse by the late hours which he kept at night. He wrote Sectiones Culteriana; Micrographia; A Description of Helioscopes; A Description of some Mechanical Improvements of Lamps and Waterpoises; and from his papers Richard Waller published posthumous works. For a statement of his near approach to the discovery of gravitation, his improvements in clock-making, and his claim to other discoveries, see Playfair's Dissertation.