CLU'SIUS, CIVROLUS, or DE LE CLUSE, CHARLES, was born at Antwerp on the 18th of February 1526. He commenced his edu cation at Ghent, and from thence was removed to Louvain with the object of studying the law. But in about two years he went to MarLurg, where, disgusted with the law, he turned to tho study of philotiophy. During this period he acquired a great fondness for botany, and devoted much of his leisure to this pursuit. At 3larburg ho formed a friendship with Ilyperius, who inspired him with an admiration for Mclancthon, and in 1549 he left Marburg for the porpeee of studying at Wittemberg. From Wittemberg he proceeded to Strasbourg, and from thence to Montpelier, where he became the pupil of Roodelet, and devoted himself to the study of medicine, which he pursued long enough to take the degree of Doctor. He resided for three years at Montpelier, and then proceeded to Paris, where he remained for two years, hut was compelled to leave on account of a civil war which broke out at that period. From this time ho visited most of the countries of Europe for the purpose of adding to his botanical knowledge. In 1564 he travelled through Germany, from thence he went with Tuggers to Spain, and afterwards visited Portugal In 1571 he returned to Belgium, and again visited Paris, from whence he went to England, where he remained some time, being much inter ested with the results of the voyages of Sir Francis Drake and other British senors. lie returned to Antwerp in 1573. Here he occupied himself with publishing the result of his botanical labours. Having accepted the invitation of the Emperor Maximilian II. to become curator of the botanical garden at Vienna, he remained there till 15S7 ; when, through a court intrigue, he was obliged to retire. He then lived at Frankfurt in a state of perfect obscurity till, in 1593, in the sixty-eighth year of his ago, he was called to the chair of botany at Leyden. This position he held for sixteen years, and died on the 4th of April 1609.
Few men have suffered more in following a favourite pursuit than Clutdus. He has on this account been called "The Martyr of Botany." A. early as his twenty-fourth year, by excessive fatigue he contracted a dropsical disease, which it is said his tutor Rondelet cured with chicory. At the age of thirty-nine he broke his right thigh during one of his botanical rambles, and a short time after his right arm. Whilst at Vienna, he dislocated his left anclo, and eight years after this accident he dislocated hie right hip. For this he'was treated unskilfully, and ever after was obliged to use crutches for support. The want of exercise in one who had habituated himself to so much brought on other discuses, the most distressing of which was stone in the bladder. During his exertions in the early part of his life he
also contracted a hernia, which troubled him to the end of his days. But his bodily infirmities never diminished his mental activity, and he continued teaching and writing to the very last. His works are very numerous, for he not only published original descriptions of new plants, but he translated Into Latin works from the French, Spanish, and Portuguese, and from the Latin Into French, thus rendering a most Important service lu the diffusion of a knowledge of the plants that were known In his day.
The following are his principal works :-1. flistolre des Plaid's; on laquelle est contcnue is Description entiere des Herbes, !curs especce, formes, norm, temperamena, vertus, et operations,' Autwerp, 1557, folio. This was a translation of a work by Dodoene, to which Clusius appended a chapter of his own on qualm, liquors, woods, fruits, and aromatic ' Autidotarium iloreutinum,' Antwerp, 1561, 8vo. This was a translation of an Italian work containing an account of tho medicine. used by the Greek, Arabian, and Florentine physiciane. 3. 'Arotuatutu et Simplicium aliquot Medicamentorum spud Indos useceatimn lliatoria; Antwerp, 1507, 8vo. This work went through many editions, and was originally a translation of a Portuguese book by Garcias ah Horto, to which Maim appended many notes and woodcuts. Ile also translated into Latin two worles of tho same kind, the one from the Spanish of Nicolas 3Ionardes, the other from the Spanish of Christopher Acosta. These were published at Antwerp its 1574. 4. 'liarlorum aliquot Stirplum per I lispaniam observaturam Historia libris dnobus express.; Autwerp, 1576, 8vo. This work, the result of his travels' in Spain, was illustrated with 229 figures of plants, some of which were from the works of Didocrus 5. ' Aliquot Notre in Gar•cire Aromatum ilistorlain; Antwerp, 1382. This little work contained an account of many things he had observe 1 in England, more especially an account of plants, fruits, &c., which had been brought to England by Sir Francis Drake. 0. ' Rader= aliquot Stirpium et Plantarum per Parmonlatra, Austriam, et vicinas quaadem Provincial obaorvatarum, Maoris quatuor fibril expresaa,' Antwerp, 1582, Svo. This work was of a similar character to the Flora of Spain, and was illustrated with 358 plates. 7. ' Rariorum Plantar= Historia; Antwerp, 1601, folio. This was a union of the two works ou tho plants of Austria and Spain, containing many additions from the then Being botanists, as Penney, Lobel, Plateau, Dortintinn and others. 8. ' Exoticorum Libri X., quilms Plantarum, Aromatum alierunique Peregriuorum Fructuum buntur; Antwerp, 1601, folio. Ile published many other works of less importance, chiefly translations.