60 BIOLOGY AND ITS MAKERS 
ing picture, taken from Ray’s correspondence, shows the fine 
control of his spirit. Under the date of April, 1684, Dr. 
Tancred Robinson writes: ‘“ Just as I left Bononia I hada 
lamentable spectacle of Malpighi’s house all in flames, 
occasioned by the negligence of his old wife. All his pic- 
tures, furniture, books,and manuscripts were burnt. I saw 
him in the very heat of the calamity, and methought I never 
beheld so much Christian patience and philosophy in any 
man before; for he comforted his wife and condoled nothing 
but the loss of his papers.” 
Education.—Malpighi was born at Crevalcuore, near 
Bologna, in 1628. His parents were landed peasants, or 
farmers, enjoying an independence in financial matters. As 
their resources permitted it, they designed to give Marcellus, 
their eldest child, the advantage of masters and schools. 
He began a life of study; and, before long, he showed a taste 
for belles-lettres and for philosophy, which he studied under 
Natali. 
Through the death of both parents, in 1649, Malpighi 
found himself orphaned at the age of twenty-one, and as he 
was the eldest of eight children, the management of domestic 
affairs devolved upon him. He had as yet made no choice 
cfa profession; but, through the advice of Natali, he resolved, 
in 1651, to study medicine. This advice followed, in 1653, 
at the age of twenty-five, he received from the University of 
Bologna the degree of Doctor of Medicine. 
University Positions.—In the course of a few years he 
married the sister of Massari, one of his teachers in anatomy, 
and became a candidate for a chair in the University of 
Bologna. This he did not immediately receive, but, about 
1656, he was appointed to a post in the university, and began 
his career as a teacher and investigator. Hc must have 
shown aptitude for this work, for he was soon called to the 
University of Pisa, where, fortunately for his development, 
