François de, a celebrated French poet, descended from a noble and ancient family, was born at Caen in 1555. He completed his studies at Heidelberg and Basle; and having quitted Normandy at the age of seventeen, he went into Provence, where he attached himself to the family of Henri d'Angoulême, the natural son of Henri II., and was in the service of that prince till he was killed by Altoviti in 1586. After having served in the wars of the League he returned to Paris, and wrote an ode on the arrival of Marie de' Medici, which established his poetical reputation. At length, Cardinal du Perron being informed of his merit and abilities, introduced him to Henri IV., who took him into his service. After the death of that monarch, his widow, Marie de' Medici, settled a pension of 500 crowns upon our poet, who died at Paris in 1628. Malherbe so far excelled all the French poets who preceded him, that Boileau considers him as the father of French poetry. He had a delicate ear, a very refined taste, and was singularly scrupulous in the choice of his expressions. His poetry is remarkable for graceful and elegant versification, but is deficient in reach of thought and power of imagination. (See Œuvres de Malherbe, 1 vol. 4to, Paris, 1797; also Vie de Malherbe, by Racan.)