_Naturalist._
[Born at Agen, in France, 1756. Died at Epinay, in France, 1825. Aged
69.]
When young, in the army; but quitted it for the study of Natural
History. The favorite pupil of Buffon, who obtained for him the
appointment of Curator to the king, and selected him to continue his
Natural History. His works display profound research, and are elegantly
written. A courteous and kind-hearted man.
255*. ANTOINE ISAAC SILVESTRE, BARON DE SACY. _Orientalist._
[Born in Paris, 1758. Died there, 1838. Aged 80.]
One of the greatest of modern linguists, he made himself master, not
only of all the classical and modern languages of Europe, but of many of
the languages of the East. His industry was remarkable. In 1806, he was
appointed Professor of Persian. In 1810, he published an Arabic
grammar. In 1832, he was raised to the peerage, and made keeper of the
Oriental MSS. in the king’s library. De Sacy was the chief founder and
first President of the Asiatic Society in Paris, and besides extending
in his country the knowledge of every branch of Oriental literature, he
caused professorships of Chinese, Sanskrit, and Hindostani to be
established in Paris. He left behind him a magnificent library.
[Bust to come.]