CAMPER, PETEn, an eminent anatomist and natural historian, was born at Leyden on the Ilth of May 1722. His family had long held a high situation in the magistra cy of that city ; and his father, Florent Camper, who had for sonic years been a minister of the gospel at Batavia, and had returned to his native country in 1713, was dis tinguished by his philosophical and literary accomplish ments, and associated with the most learned characters of Leyden. Boerhaave, Gravesande, Alusschenbrock, and Moor, were his most intimate friends; and it was in the society of these celebrated men that young Camper spent much of his youth, and from their conversation im bibed that love of science and the fine arts for which ho afterwards became so conspicuous. At an early age, Camper was instructed by the famous Moor in the art of designing and painting ; a study which, though he had no intention of prosecuting but as an amusement, yet was of the utmost advantage to him in his anatomical re searches, as it enabled him to make drawings of such figures and preparations as he wished to have engraved. The plates with which his works are illustrated, arc con sequently free from many inaccuracies which dependence upon the delineations of others often renders unavoidable. His knowledge of geometry, which he also aCCIllired Whell young, under the tuition of the celebrated Labordes, proved another useful auxiliary in his future pursuits, and gave a correctness to his elucidations which they could not otherwise have possessed. These studies, however, lie soon quitted for more important acquisitions ; and, having entered the university of Leyden, he devoted him self in a particular manner to medicine, which soon be came his fitrourite study. The different branches of that science were then taught by Gaubius, Van Rooyen, the Elder Albinus, and Trim') ; the age and infirmities of Boerhaave having disabled him from attending his pub lic duty in the university, and from becoming the precep tor of the son of his friend. Under these masters, Cam per soon rose to distinction ; and when he received his degree of doctor in philosophy and medicine in 1746, he published two dissertations,—the one, De Visu, the other, De Oeuli quibusdam partibus, which have both been much praised by Baldinger.
Having finished his studies at Leyden, he was now desirous of visiting the different capitals and universities of Europe, and of improving the acquaintance which he had already formed with several of their most eminent literati. But the age and growing weakness of his pa rents demanding the presence and the tenderest atten tions of an affectionate son, prevented for a time the ful filment of his wishes. This obstacle, however, was in a few years removed by their death, which happened in 1748 ; and Camper soon after set out for London. Here he associated with the celebrated physicians Mead, Prin gle, Pitcairn, &c. lie renewed his medical studies un der Hunter, Sharp, Smellie, and Winchester ; and his taste for natural history was awakened by his visiting the cabinets of Hans Sloane and Collinson, and the collections of Hill and Catesby. Endowed with an inquisitive and comprehensive mind, his researches were not confined to any particular branch of science. He delighted in the wide range of general knowledge ; and examined, with the eye of a philosopher, the different improvements in every department of the arts. Ile attended the most eminent artists and mechanicians, deriving from each such instructions as were connected with their particular professions ; and the improvements in naval architecture engaged a considerable share of his attention. here, also, his taste for painting was not forgotten ; and he even acquired sonic practical knowledge in the art of engraving. Having spent nearly twelve months in Lon don, zealously engaged in scientific and literary pursuits, lie went to Paris in the slimmer of 1749, where he was introduced to Buffon and sonic other distinguished cha racters, and where he remained about two months, visit ing the principal public establishments of that capital. He then repaired to Lyons, and from thence to Geneva.