He was born in Paris on February 2, 1600. On finishing his humanities and philosophy studies, he applied himself to the study of medicine. However, seized by a passion for literature, in order to complete his education he gave up a well-paid position which he had found, and in 1626 came to Padua, but had to leave a few months later at the death of his father. In 1631 he went to Rome as librarian of Cardinal di Bagno. But on being chosen in 1633 as regular physician to King Louis XIII, he resumed his medical studies and returned to Padua to get his degree. After the death of Cardinal di Bagno, he took the post of librarian for Cardinal F. Barberini, which however he did not keep for long, for in 1642 he was summoned by Cardinal Richelieu who wished to entrust him with the direction of his own library. At Richelieu’s death he served Cardinal Mazarin in the same capacity, and undertook long journeys to assemble a splendid library, which however did not prevent it, upon Mazarin’s death, from being disbanded. It seemed that he had found a peaceful niche as librarian of Queen Christine of Sweden, but being unable to stand the severe climate of Stockholm, he quit that office, returned to France, and died at Abbeville on July 29, 1653.

The Works of Galileo Galilei, national edition edited by Antonio Favaro, Florence, Barbèra, 1899-1909, vol. XX, Biographical Index, to v.