feOYLE. 
X 
extraordinary genius. While very young, 
he was instructed in his father's house to 
read and write, and to speak French and 
Latin. In 1635, when only eight years old, 
he was sent over to England, lo be edu- 
cated at Eton school. Here lie soon disco- 
vered extraordinary powers of understand- 
ing, w ith a disposition to cultivate and im- 
prove it to the utmost. 
After remaining at Eton between three 
and four years, his father sent him and his 
brother Francis, in 1638, on their travels 
upon the continent. They passed through 
France to Geneva, where they settled for 
some time to pursue their studies : here he 
resumed his acquaintance with the elements 
of the mathematics, which he had com- 
menced at Eton when ten years old. 
In the autumn of 1641, he quitted Gene- 
va, and travelled through Switzerland and 
Italy to Venice, from whence he returned 
again to. Florence, where he spent the win- 
ter, studying the Italian language and his- 
tory, <thd the works of the celebrated astro- 
nomer Galileo, who died in a village near 
this city during Mr. Boyle’s residence here. 
About the end of March, 1642, beset 
out from Florence, visited Rome and other 
places in Italy, then returned to the south 
of France, and came back to England in 
1644. 
From this time, Mr. Boyle’s chief resi- 
dence, for some years at least, was at iiis 
manor of Stalbridge, from whence he made 
occasional excursions to Oxford, London, 
&c. ; applying himself with great industry 
to various kinds of studies, but especially 
to philosophy and chemistry; and seizing 
every opportunity of cultivating the ac- 
quaintance of tile most learned men of his 
time. He was one of the members of that 
small but learned body of men, who, when 
all academical studies were interrupted by 
the civil wars, secreted themselves about 
the year 1645, and held private meetings, 
first in London, afterwards at Oxford, to 
cultivate subjects of natural knowledge 
upon that plan of experiment which Lord 
Bacon bad delineated. They styled them- 
selves then the Philosophic College; but 
after the restoration, when they were in- 
corporated, and distinguished openly, they 
took the name of the Royal Society. 
In the summer of 1654, he went to set- 
tle at Oxford, the Philosophical Society be- 
ing removed from London to that place, 
that he might enjoy the conversation of the 
other learned members, his friends, who 
had retired thither, such as Wilkins, Wallis, 
VOL. I. 
Ward, Willis, Wren, &c. It was during 
his residence here that he improved that 
admirable engine the air-pump ; and by nu- 
merous experiments was enabled to disco- 
ver several qualities of the air, so as to lay 
a foundation for a complete theory. But 
philosophy, and inquiries into nature, 
though they engaged his attention deeply, 
did not occupy him entirely ; as he still 
continued to pursue critical and theological 
studies. He had offers of preferment to en- 
ter into holy orders, by the government, af- 
ter Ihe restoration. But he declined the 
offer, choosing rather to pursue his studies 
as a layman, in such a manner as might be 
most effectual for the support of religion ; 
and began to communicate to the world the 
fruits of these studies. 
In the year 1663, the Royal Society be- 
ing incorporated by King Charles II. Mr. 
Boyle was named one of the council ; and 
as he might justly be reckoned among the 
founders of that learned body, so he conti- 
nued one of the most useful and industrious 
of its members during the whole course of 
his life. 
In 1688, Mr. Boyle’s health declining 
very much, he abridged greatly his time 
given to conversations and communications 
with other persons, to have more time to 
prepare for the press some others of iiis pa- 
pers, before his death ; ho died on the last 
day of December of the same year 1651, in 
the 65th year of his age, and was buried in 
St. Martin’s church in the Fields, Westmin- 
ster ; his funeral sermon being preached by 
Dr. Gilbert Burnet, Bishop of Salisbury ; in 
which he displayed the excellent qualities 
of our author, with many circumstances of 
his life, &c. He represents him as being 
well acquainted with the Whole compass of 
the mathematical sciences, and as well 
versed even in the most abstruse parts of 
geometry. 
Mr. Boyle left also several papers behind 
him, which have been published since his 
death. Beautiful editions of ail his works 
have been printed at London, in 5 volumes 
folio, and six volumes 4to. Dr. Shaw also 
published in three volumes 4to., the same 
w orks “ abridged,- methodized, and disposed 
under the general heads of i’hysic, Statics, 
Pneumatics, Natural History, Chemistry, 
and Medicine ;” to which he has prefixed a 
short catalogue of tire philosophical writ- 
ings, according to the order of time when 
they were first published. The character 
of this great man can be only estimated by 
an attention to hi* works, reflecting, at the 
R r 
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