he was superficial as a historical painter, and his portraits are mannered and artificial, as his rivals discovered during his own lifetime. An interesting picture is the portrait of Madame de Maintenon. now at the Louvre. Pierre Mignard is called "the Roman," to distinguish him from his elder brother, Nicolas Mignard (1605-1668), known as "Mignard d'Avignon," from his having settled in that city. He was painter and engraver, and also distinguished for his portraits. The Cardinal de Mazarin procured him the honour of painting Louis XIV. and his queen.—(L'Abbé de Monville, La vie de Pierre Mignard, &c., Amsterdam, 1731.)—R. N. W.
* MIGNET, François Auguste Marie, a French historian, born at Aix on the 8th May, 1796. He was educated first at Aix, and on account of his superior ability sent as a bursar to Avignon. In 1818 he was, with his friend M. Thiers, received at the bar of Aix. He preferred literature to law, however, and was soon distinguished by the high merit of his writings. In 1821 the Academy of Inscriptions offered a prize on the state of legislation in the reign of St. Louis, and this prize M. Mignet shared with M. Beugnot. In consequence of this success and of the high eulogiums passed on his work, he quitted Aix and went to Paris in July, 1821, where two months later he was joined by M. Thiers. He there attached himself to the staff of the Courier Français, where his political articles attracted the attention of Talleyrand. He also lectured on French and English history, and his lectures met the same favourable reception as his writings. In 1824 he published his "History of the French Revolution," which was speedily translated into several European languages. In 1830 he was engaged on a "History of the Reformation in France," when the second revolution came to give practical and liberal results. He then joined the National, founded by M. Thiers and the much regretted Armand Carrel. He was named councillor of state and director of the archives of foreign affairs. He was also sent to Spain with communications for the French ambassador, when the death of Ferdinand rendered a change of policy advisable. In 1837 he was elected a member of the French Academy and on the death of M. Comte, was chosen perpetual secretary of the Academy of Moral Sciences. The revolution of 1848 deprived him of his title of councillor of state and of his official employment. He is considered to be one of the best writers of the French language in the present day. His earliest work was on "The Feudal System, the Institutions of St. Louis, and the Legislation of France," Paris, 1854. The following works have also proceeded from his pen—"History of the French Revolution from 1789 to 1814," Paris, 1824, sixth edition in 1836; "Negotiations relative to the Spanish succession under Louis XIV.," 4 vols., 8vo., a work which was also included in the "Collection of Unpublished Documents" for the history of France; "Historical Memoirs," read at the Academy; "Antonio Perez and Philip II.;" a "Life of Franklin;" a "Life of Mary Stuart," &c. His duty as secretary of the academy called him to deliver the eloges of some departed members, several of which have been given to the world. M. Mignet is said to be engaged on an extensive work on the reformation in France, the league, and the reign of Henry IV.—P. E. D.
MIGNON, Abraham, a celebrated fruit and flower painter, born at Frankfort in 1639, was a scholar of Jacob Moreels, and afterwards of J. D. de Heem, of whose manner he was an imitator. Mignon is usually classed with Jan van Huysum and De Heem as one of the three great masters in this branch of art; but Mignon is inferior to both the others in composition and general effect. Nothing can, however, well surpass the almost microscopic accuracy and finish of the several parts of his pictures—whether principals or accessories, fruit or flowers, insects or dew drops, birds, fish, plate or porcelain. His pictures were eagerly purchased at high prices during his lifetime, and they have always retained their value. He was a most industrious painter, and his works are found in most large collections; but genuine examples now seldom reach the public market. He died at Wetzlar in 1679.—J. T—e.
MIGNOT, Vincent, a French historian, nephew of Voltaire, was born in Paris about 1725, and died in September. 1791. He entered the ecclesiastical order and had several benefices. He was also assessor to the grand council, and with it attended the parliament of Maupeou. As abbé he attended Voltaire in his last moments, and with the marquis of Villevieille signed the profession of religion made by the great sceptic before his death. Doubtful whether the clergy would accord a christian burial to his uncle, he carried off the body to Scellières, from which place it was afterwards taken to the Pantheon. His historical works were on the Empress Irene, on John I. of Naples, on Ferdinand and Isabella, and on the Roman empire.—P. E. D.
MILBOURNE, Luke, an English divine and writer of verses, son of an ejected clergyman, was educated at Pembroke hall, Cambridge; was chosen lecturer of Shoreditch in 1688; was appointed to the living of St. Ethelburga, within Bishopgate, London, in 1704; and died in 1720. He published a number of sermons, a treatise against the Socinians, a vindication of the Dryden's Virgil, and some other works, all of which have passed into oblivion. His name has been preserved in consequence of the satirical notice which Dryden and Pope have taken of his works—J. T.
MILDERT. William van. See Van Mildert.
MILDMAY, Sir Walter, an English statesman, flourished in the sixteenth century, and was founder of Emmanuel college, Cambridge. He was surveyor of the court of augmentation in the reign of Henry VIII., an office which had been held by his father; master of the mint to Edward VI.; and privy councillor and chancellor of the exchequer to Queen Elizabeth, who trusted and employed him on account of his integrity, but was jealous of his popularity. He was successively member of parliament for Maldon, Peterborough, and the county of Northampton. He died in 1589. Sir Walter was both a learned man and a patron of learning. Camden and other historians have warmly eulogized his public and private character and conduct—J. T.
MILIZIA, Francesco, a celebrated writer on architecture, was born in 1725 at the little town of Oria, in the province of Otranto, Naples. Of a noble and wealthy family, he received a careful academic training, paying especial attention to mathematics and natural philosophy. His early manhood was spent in desultory literary occupations; but, rendered independent by the death of his father, he in 1761 visited Rome with his wife, and, becoming deeply interested in the ancient monuments of that city, settled there, and devoted himself with ardour to the study of architecture. He gave to the world the first fruits of his labours in the "Lives of Celebrated Architects" (Vite degli Architetti piu celebri), 2 vols., 1768, a work that, despite many demerits, has long been used as a standard work of reference: it was translated—not very accurately—into English in 1826. A treatise on theatres ("Del Teatro"), 1772—which caused some controversy, and was in consequence withdrawn from circulation at Rome, but at once reissued at Venice—and several minor publications followed, and served to extend his reputation. His most important architectural work, "The Principles of Civil Architecture" (Elementi di Architettura Civile), appeared in 1781, in 3 vols. 8vo, and produced a powerful impression. The freedom and pungency of the comments on many noted architects and edifices, both ancient and modern, gave great offence to some, but were received with equal applause by others; and the book was speedily reprinted. A third and greatly improved edition was published at Bassano in 1785. It has been translated into various languages; was in its day a work of unquestionable value; and may still be read with advantage. The other work by which he is now chiefly remembered is his "Dizionario delle Belle Arti del Disegno," 2 vols., 1797, the materials of which he acknowledges to have derived chiefly from the Encyclopédie Méthodique. "The Dictionary of the Fine Arts" is a very imperfect, but a very handy book, and has consequently been several times reprinted; the most convenient edition is that of Bologna, 2 vols. 8vo, 1827. His other art publications were one on the study of the fine arts ("Arte di vedere nelle Belle Arti"), and another on the antiquities of Rome ("Roma delle Belle Arti di Disegno"); but these brought upon him such fierce attacks from professors and critics, that in disgust he abandoned the study of art and turned to natural history and political economy. He afterwards published an Introduction to Natural History, an Abridgment of Bailly's History of Astronomy; and one or two minor essays on cognate subjects, but without adding anything to his reputation. He died at Rome in March, 1798. His "Lettere Inedite" were published at Paris in 1827.—J. T—e.
MILL, James, an earnest and eminent leader of the utilitarian movement of the last generation, was born or the 6th of April, 1773, in the parish of Logie Pert, and in the neighbourhood of Montrose, where his father was a small farmer and shoemaker. He received his earlier education at the parish school of Logie Pert, and at the grammar-school of Montrose, where among his
