VOSSIUS (Gerard John)
, one of the most learned and laborious writers of the 17th century, was of a considerable family in the Netherlands: and was born in 1577, in the Palatinate near Heidelberg, at a place where his father, John Vossius, was minister. He first learned Latin, Greek, and Philosophy at Dort, where his father had settled, and died. In 1595 he went to Leyden, where he farther pursued these studies, joining mathematics to them, in which science he made a considerable progress. He became Master of Arts and Doctor in Philosophy in 1598; and soon after, Director of the College at Dort; then, in 1614, Director of the Theological College just founded at Leyden; and, in 1618, Professor of Eloquence and Chronology in the Academy there, the same year in which appeared his History of the Pelagian Controversy. This history procured him much odium and disgrace on the continent, but an ample reward in England, where archbishop Laud obtained leave of king Charles the 1st for Vossius to hold a prebendary in the church of Canterbury, while he resided at Leyden: this was in 1629, when he came over to be installed, took a Doctor of Laws degree at Oxford, and then returned.—In 1633 he was called to Amsterdam to fill the chair of a Professor of History; where he died in 1649, at 72 years of age; after having written and published as many works as, when they came to be collected and printed at Amsterdam in 1695 &c, made 6 volumes folio, works which will long continue to be read with pleasure and profit. The principal of these are, —1. Etymologicon Linguæ Latinæ.—2. De Origine & Progressu Idololatriæ.—3. De Historicis Græcis.—4. De Historicis Latinis.—5. De Arte Grammatica.—6. De Vitiis Sermonis & Glossematis Latino-Barbaris.—7. Institutiones Oratoriæ.—8. Institutiones Poeticæ.—9. Ars Historica.—10. De quatuor Artibus popularibus, Grammatice, Gymnastice, Musice, & Graphice.—11. De Philologia.—12. De Universa Matheseos Natura & Constitutione.—13. De Philosophia.—14. De Philosophorum Sectis.—15. De Veterum Poetarum Temporibus.
Vossius (Denis), son of the foregoing Gerard John, died at 22 years of age, a prodigy of learning, whose incessant studies brought on him so immature a death. There are of his, among other smaller pieces, Notes upon Cæsar's Commentaries, and upon Maimonides on Idolatry.
Vossius (Francis), brother of Denis and son of Gerard John, died in 1645, after having published a Latin poem in 1640, on a naval victory gained by the celebrated Van Tromp.
Vossius (Gerard), brother of Denis and Francis, and son of Gerard John, wrote Notes upon Paterculus, which were printed in 1639. He was one of the most learned critics of the 17th century; but died in 1640, like his two brothers, at a very early age, and before their father.
Vossius (Isaac), was the youngest son of Gerard John, and the only one that survived him. He was born at Leyden in 1618, and was a man of great talents and learning. His father was his only preceptor, and his whole time was spent in studying. His merit recommended him to a correspondence with queen Christina of Sweden, who employed him in some literary commissions. At her request, he made several journeys into Sweden, where he had the honour to teach her the Greek language; though she afterwards discarded him on hearing that he intended to write against Salmasius, for whom she had a particular regard. In 1663 he received a handsome present of money from Louis the 14th of France, accompanied with a complimentary letter from the minister Colbert.—In 1670 he came over to England, when he was created Doctor of Laws at Oxford, and king Charles the 2d made him Canon of Windsor; though he knew his character well enough to say, there was nothing that Vossius refused to believe, excepting the Bible. He appears indeed, by his publications, which are neither so numerous nor so useful as his father's, to have been a most credulous man, while he afforded many circumstances to bring his religious faith in question. He died at his lodgings in Windsor Castle, in 1688; leaving behind him the best private library, as it was then supposed, in the world; which, to the shame and reproach of England, was suffered to be purchased and carried away by the university of Leyden. His publications chiefly were:—1. Periplus Scylacis Caryandensis, &c, 1639.—2. Justin, with Notes, 1640.—3. Ignatii Epistolæ, & Barnabæ Epistola, 1646.—4. Pomponius Mela de Situ Orbis, 1648.—5. Dissertatio de vera Ætate Mundi, &c, 1659.—6. De Septuaginta Interpretibus, &c, 1661.—7. De Luce, 1662.—8. De Motu Marium & Ventorum.—9. De Nili & aliorum Fluminum Origine.—10. De Poematum Cantu & Viribus Rythmi, 1673.—11. De Sybillinis aliisque, quæ Christi natalem præcessere, 1679.—12. Catullus, & in eum Isaaci Vossii Observationes, 1684.—13. Variarum Observationum liber, 1685, in which are contained the following pieces: viz, De Antiquæ Romæ & aliarum quarundam Urbium Magnitudine; De Artibus & Scientiis Sinarum; De Origine & Progressu Pulveris Bellici apud Europæos; De Triremium & Liburnicarum Constructione; De Emendatione Longitudinum; De patefacienda per Septeutrionem ad Japonenses & Indos Navigatione; De apparentibus in Luna circulis; Diurna Telluris conversione omnia gravia ad medium tendere.
