Pitiscus, Samuel

, a very learned scholar and editor, was born at Zutphen, March 30, 1637. His grandfather, there is reason to think, was Bartholomew Pitiscus, preacher to the elector palatine, who died in 1613, and was the author of a Latin work on “Trigonometry,” reprinted in 1612, and very much approved by Tycho Brabe. His father, Samuel, appears to have been a refugee for the sake of the protestant religion, and took up his abode at Zutphen, where our author was first educated, but he afterwards studied polite literature at Daventer under John Frederick Qronovius, for two years, and divinity for three, at Groningen. After finishing this course he was admitted into the church, and appointed master of the public school at Zutphen in 1685. About the same time he was intrusted with the direction of the college of St. Jerome at Utrecht, which he retained until 1717, when, being in his eightieth year, he resigned with great credit, but lived ten years longer, and died Feb. 1, 1727. He married two wives, one while schoolmaster at Zutphen, who gave him much uneasiness, having contracted a habit | of drunkenness, to gratify which she used to steal and sell his books. The other, whom he married at Utrecht, restored that domestic happiness which suited his retired and studious disposition. He acquired considerable property by his works, and left at his death 10,000 florins to the poor. He was a man of extensive learning, directed chiefly to the illustration of the classical authors, and was long in the highest esteem as a teacher

His works are, 1. “Fundamenta religionis Christianas in usum Gymnasii Zutphaniensis,” 8vo. 2. “Quintus Curtius cum c’ommentario perpetuo, variisque iconismis aeri affabre incisis,” Utrecht, 1635, the first of the classic authors whom he illustrated by the explanation of ancient customs, represented by engravings. 3. “Suetonius,” ibid. 1690, 2 vols. 8vo, and Leovard. 1715, 2 vols. 4to. This last is the best edition of this elegant and useful work, which is well known to classical scholars. 4. “Aurelius Victor,” with the notes of various commentators and engravings, Utrecht, 1696, 8vo, a rare and valuable edition. 5. “Lexicon Latino-Belgicum,” the best edition of which is that printed at Dort in 1725, 4to. 6. “Lexicon Antiquitatum Romanarum,” Utrecht, 2 vols. folio, a work of great erudition, and the labour of many years. 7. “Solini Polyhistor, cum Salmasii exercitationibus Plinianis,” Utrecht, 2 vols. folio. 8. ' Francisci Pomey Pantheon Mythicum.“9.” Rosini Antiq. Romanarum corpus," Utrecht, 1701, 4to. Of these last three he was only the editor. ¹