BOYLE (RonElul), one of the greatest philosophers, as well as best men, that any country has ever produced, was the seventh son, and the fourteenth child, of Richard Earl of Cork, and born at Lis more, in the province of Munster, in Ire land, the 25th of January, 1626-7 ; the very year of the death of the learned Lord Bacon, whose plans of experimental philosophy he afterwards so ably second ed, that it was said of him, that he was the person designed by nature to succeed to the labours and enquiries of that ex traordinary 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, to be educated at Eton school. Here he soon discovered extraordinary powers of un derstanding, with a disposition to culti vate and improve 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 acquaint ance with the elements of the mathema tics, which he had commenced at Eton when ten years old.
In the autumn of 1641, he quitted Ge neva, and travelled through Switzerland and Italy to Venice, from whence he re turned again to Florence, where he spent the winter, studying the Italian language and history, and the works of the cele brated astronomer Galileo, who died in a village near this city during Mr. Boyle's residence here.
About the end of March, 1642, he set out from Florence, visited Rome and other places in Italy, then returned to the Routh of France, and came back to Eng land in 1644.
From this time Mr. Boyle's chief resi dence, for some years at least, was at his 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 culti vating the acquaintance of the 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, at.d held private meetings, first in London, afterwards at Oxford, to culti vate subjects of natural knowledge, upon that plan of experiment which Lord Ba con had 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 settle at Oxford, the Philosophical Socie ty being removed from London to that place, that he might enjoy the conversa tion of the other learned members, his friends, who had retired thither, such as Wilkins, Wallis, Ward, Willis, Wren, &c. It was during his residence here
that he improved that admirable engine the air-pump : and by numerous experi ments was enabled to discover several qualities of the air, so as to lay a founda tion for a complete theory. But philo sophy, and inquiries into nature, though they engaged his attention deeply, did not occupy him entirely, as he still con tinued to pursue critical and theological studies. He had offers of preferment to enter into holy orders, by the govern ment, after the restoration. But he de clined the offer, choosing rather to pur sue 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 continued one of the most useful and in dustrious 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 communica tions with other persons, to have more time to prepare for the press some others of his papers, before his death ; he died on the last day of December of the year 1691, in the 65th year of his age, and was buried in St. Martin's church in the Fields, Westminster, his funeral ser mon being preached by Dr. Gilbert Bur net, 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 be hind him, which have been published since his death. Beautiful editions of all his works have been printed at London, in five volumes folio, and six volumes 4to. Dr. Shaw also published, in three vo lumes 4to. the same works, " abridged, methodized, and disposed under the ge neral beads of Physic, Statics, Pneuma tics, Natural Elistory, Chemistry, and Me dicine ; to which he has prefixed a short catalogue of his philosophical writings, 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 his works, reflecting, at the same time, on the state of science at the period in which ee lived. He was distinguished by the comprehensiveness of his views, and the extent and variety of his researches ; by indefatigable dili gence, and invincible perseverance, in his collection of facts and investigation of their causes ; by a total freedom from any preconceived attachment to theories, and systems ; by candour in discussing the opinions of others ; and by fidelity and modesty in the narration of his own performances.