Theophrastus

, a native of Eresus in Lesbos, son of a fuller. He studied under Plato, and afterwards under Aristotle, whose friendship he gained, and whose warmest commendations he deserved. His original name was Tyrtamus , but this the philosopher made him exchange for that of Euphrastus , to intimate his excellence in speaking, and afterwards for that of Theophrastus , which he deemed still more expre ive of his eloquence, the brilliancy of his genius, and the elegance of his language. After the death of So crates, when the malevolence of the A then i ans drove all the philosopher’s friends from the city, Theophrastus succeeded Aristotle in the Lyceum, and rendered himself so conspicuous, that in a short time the number of his auditors was increased to 2000. Not only his countrymen courted his applause, but kings and princes were desirous of his friendship: and Cas sander and Ptolemy, two of the most powerful of the succe ors of Alexander, regarded him with more than usual partiality. Theophrastus composed many books, and Diogenes has enumerated the titles of above 200 treatises, which he wrote with great elegance and copiousne . About 20 of these are extant, among which are his history of stones, his treatise on plants, on the winds, on the signs of fair weather, . , and his Characters, an excellent moral treatise, which was begun in the 99th year of his age. He died, loaded with years and infirmities, in the 107th year of his age, B.C. 288, lamenting the shortne of life, and complaining of the partiality of nature in granting longevity to the crow and to the stag, but not to man. To his care we are indebted for the works of Aristotle, which the dying philosopher entrusted to him. The best edition of Theophrastus, is that of Heinsius, folio, Leiden, 1613; and of his Characters, that of Needham, 8vo, Cambridge. 1712, and that of Fischer, 8vo, Coburg, 1763. Cicero , Tusculanæ Dis put at i ones , bk. 3 , ch. 28 ; Brutus , ch. 31 ; Orator , ch. 19 , . — Strabo , bk. 13 .— Diogenes Laërtius , Lives .— Ælian , Varia Hist or i a , bk. 2 , ch. 8 ; bk. 34 , ch. 20 ; bk. 8 , ch. 12 .— Quintilian , bk. 10 , ch. 1 .— Plutarch , Adversus Colotem .――An officer entrusted with the care of the citadel of Corinth by An tigon us. Polyænus.