DEMOSTHENES (de-mos'the-nez), an illustrious orator of ancient Greece, born in 383 or 384 B. C. In 359, to assist in his own support, he began pre paring speeches to be used in public suits. In 351 he began a long and mem orable conflict against Philip the Mace donian. His speeches, intended to arouse the Greek nation to military zeal, called "Philippics," are among the finest specimens of ancient oratory. In 346 he was one of the peace ambassadors who treated with Philip. During the period from 346 to 340 he was engaged in forming an anti-Macedonian party, and in his attacks upon lEschines for betraying Athens in the peace negotia tions with Philip. In 340 war again broke out, ending in the great defeat of the Greeks at Chwronea. It having been proposed by the citizens to present De mosthenes with a crown, in honor of his services to the State, his enemies seized on the opportunity to accuse him. He
defended himself on his trial, in a mem orable oration "On the Crown," one of his greatest productions.
In 324 Harpalus, the State treasurer of Alexander the Great, who had suc ceeded Philip in Macedonia, fled to Athens with a great sum of money, which was placed in the Athenian public treasury under the charge of Demos thenes. A portion of it disappeared, and Demosthenes was accused of the embezzlement, and condemned and sen tenced to prison, but, escaping, went in to exile. On the death of Alexander, 323 B. C., he was recalled, and led an un successful attempt to throw off the Mace donian yoke. After the defeat of the revolting army at Crannon, he fled to Calauria, where he was captured by the Macedonians, and poisoned himself, in 322 B. C.