Ferrari, Octavian

, an Italian author, was born of a noble family at Milan in 1518. After he had studied polite learning, philosophy, and physic, in the universities of Italy, he was chosen professor of ethics and politics, in the college founded by Paul Canobio at his instigation; and held this place eighteen years. The senate of Venice engaged him afterwards to remove to Padua, where he explained the philosophy of Aristotle, with so much skill and elegance, that Vimerat, who was professor at Paris under Francis I. returning to Italy upon the death of that king, fixed upon him, preferably to all others, for the publication of his works. He continued at Padua four years, and then returned to Milan; where he continued to teach philosophy till his death, which happened in 1586. Though he was excellently skilled in polite literature, yet he was principally famous for philosophy, being esteemed a | second Aristotle, nor was he less illustrious for his probity than for his learning.

He was the author of several works; as, 1. “De Sermonibus Exotericis, Venet. 1575,” in which he treats of that part of Aristotle’s doctrine, which was intended for all sorts of people, without meddling with the Acroainatics, which were only for the use of his scholars. This book was reprinted at Francfort, 1606, with a new dissertation of “De disciplina Encyclica,” under the general title of “Clavis Philosophise Peripateticae Aristotelicae.” 2. “De Origine Romanorum,” Milan, 1607. Though death prevented Ferrari from putting the last hand to this work, Graevius thought proper to insert it in the first volume of his “Roman Antiquities,” and added his own corrections to it. 3. He translated Athenaeus into Latin, and wrote some notes upon Aristotle. ¹