MARTIN (BENJAmix,) in biography, was born in 1704, and became one of the most celebrated mathematicians and opti clans of his lime. He first taught a school in the country ; but afterwards came up to London, were he read lectures on ex perimental philosophy for many years, and carried on a tery extensive trade as an optician and globe-maker in Fleet street, till the growing infirmities of old age compelled him to withdraw from the active part of businesx. Trusting too fa tally to what he thought the integrity of others, he unfortunately, though with a capital more than sufficient to pay all his debts, became a bankrupt. The unhap py old man, in a moment of desperation from this unexpected stroke, attempted to destroy himself ; and the wound, though not immediately mortal, hastened his death, which happened the 9th of Feb ruary, 1782, at 78 years of age.
He had a valuable collection of fossils and curiosities of almost every species ; which, after his death, were almost given away by public auction. He was indefa tigable as an artist, and as a writer he had a very happy method of explaining his sub ject, and wrote with clearness, and even considerable elegance. Ife was chiefly eminent in the science of optics ; but he was well skilled in the whole circle of the mathematical and philosophical sciences, and wrote useful books on every one of them ; though he was not distinguished by any remarkable inventions or discove ries of his own. His publications were very numerous, and generally useful ; some of the principal of them were as fol lows : " The Philosophical Grammar ; being a View of the present State of Experimen tal Physiology, or Natural Philosophy," 1735, 8vo. " A New, Complete, and Uni
versal System or Body of Decimal Arith metic," 1735, 8vo. "The Young Student's Memorial Book, or Pocket Library," 1735, 8vo. "Description and Use of both the Globes, the Armillary Sphere, and Orrery, Trigonometry," 1736, 2 vols. 8vo. " System of the Newtonian Philosophy," 1759, 3 vols. " New Elements of Op tics," 1759. " Mathematical Institutions," 1764, 2 vols. " I'hilologic and Philoso• phical Geography," 1759. " Lives of Philosophers, their Inventions, &c." 1764, 3 vols. " Miscellaneous Correspondence," 1764, 4 vols. "Institutions of Astronomical Calculation," 3 parts, 1765. "Introduction to the Newtonian Philosophy," 1765. "Treatise of Logarithms." " Treatise on Navigation." " Description and Use of the Air-pump." " Description of the Torricellian Barometer." " Appendix to the USe of the Globes." "Philosophic Bri tannica," 3 vols. " Principles of Pump work." " Theory of the Hydrometer.", " Description and Use of a Case of Ma. thematical Instruments" " Ditto of a universal Sliding Rule." " Micographia, or the Microscope" " Principles of Perspective." " Course of Lectures." " Optical Essays," " Essay on Electrici ty." "Essay on Visual Glasses, or Spec tacles." " Horologia Nova, or New Art of Dialling." " Theory of Comets." " Na ture and Construction of Solar Eclipses." " Venus in the Sun." " The Mariner's Mirror." " Thermometrum Magnum." " Survey of the Solar System." " Essay on island Crystal." " Logorithmologia Nova," &c. &c.