David) Brewster, and was one of the best elementary treatises on physics of its time. He wrote several articles in the Encyclopædia Britannica, chiefly on mechanical subjects; one of those, on the steam-engine, was revised and augmented by Watt. He was the author also of several papers in the Transactions of the Royal Society of Edinburgh. His scientific writings are distinguished by complete information, clear conception, and sound reasoning. In 1797 he published a curious work, entitled "Proofs of a Conspiracy," in which he denounced a mysterious society called the "Illuminati," as the authors of a plot to overthrow religion and government throughout the world. His last literary work was editing Black's Chemistry in 1803.—His son, Sir John Robison, was a distinguished promoter of the diffusion and practical application of science.—W. J. M. R.
ROBORTELLO, Francesco, a learned author, and professor in various Italian cities; born in Udine, 9th September, 1516; died in Padua, 18th March, 1567. He was addicted to literary feuds; Sigonio, Paolo Manuzio, and Erasmus being numbered amongst his adversaries. Besides editions of old authors, Robortello published several original works, such as—"De vita et victu Populi Romani sub Imperatoribus Cæsaribus Augustis;" "De Historica Facultate;" "De Artificio dicendi;" and "Variorum Locorum Annotationes tam in Græcis quam in Latinis Auctoribus."—C. G. R.
ROBUSTI. See Tintoretto.
ROBY, John, a miscellaneous writer, was a native of Lancashire, and was for many years a banker in Rochdale. His first literary production was "Sir Bartram," a poem in six cantos, which was published in 1815. But his best known work is the "Traditions of Lancashire," which appeared in 1829, in 2 vols., 8vo. A second series followed in 1831. The work was well received by the public, and passed into a second edition in 1841. Mr. Roby was also the author of a book of travels, entitled "Seven Weeks in Belgium, Lombardy, Piedmont, Savoy," &c., 2 vols., 8vo, 1838. This accomplished writer and benevolent man unfortunately perished in the wreck of the Orion, near Portpatrick, 18th June, 1850.—J. T.
ROCCA, Angelo, founder of the Angelical library at Rome, was born in 1545 at Rocca Contrata in the March of Ancona, took the habit of an Augustinian monk, and after studying at Rome, Venice, Perugia, and Padua, was appointed by Sextus V., in 1585, to superintend the edition of the Bible, the Councils, and the Fathers, which issued from the papal press during this pontificate. Clement VIII. , in 1595, made him apostolical sacristan and titular bishop of Tagoste in Numidia. Rocca died in 1620.
ROCHAMBEAU, Jean Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, Count de, a French marshal, was born in 1725 at Vendôme, of which his father was governor. He was originally intended for the church; but on the death of his elder brother this intention was laid aside, and he was educated for the profession of arms. In 1742 he became a cornet in the regiment of St. Louis, with which he made a campaign in Germany. In 1746 he served under the Count de Clermont at the siege of Antwerp and of Namur, and at the battle of Raucoux. At the age of twenty-two Rochambeau was appointed colonel of the regiment of La Marche, at the head of which he was severely wounded in the battle of Lawfelt. The Marshal de Belle-Isle pronounced this regiment a model for its discipline, and skill in manœuvring. In 1748 Rochambeau assisted in the siege of Maestricht. He next took part in the expedition to Minorca under Marshal Richelieu, and displayed conspicuous courage at the siege of fort Mahon. He was rewarded with the rank of brigadier of infantry, and the order of St. Louis. He next served under Marshal d'Estrées against Prince Frederick of Brunswick, took part in the battles of Crevelt, Minden, Corbach, and Klostercamp, in the last of which he was severely wounded. In 1761 he attained the rank of major-general, and received various honorary distinctions. He was nominated lieutenant-general in 1780, and despatched with six thousand men to the assistance of the American colonies in their contest with the mother country. These auxiliaries rendered important service to Washington in bringing about the capitulation of the British forces at Yorktown, and the consequent acknowledgment of American independence. The services of Count Rochambeau were warmly acknowledged by congress, and the American secretary of state was directed to recommend him to the favourable notice of his own sovereign. At the same time the British officers made grateful mention of his kindness to his prisoners. On his return to France the count was rewarded with the blue ribbon and the government of Picardy. In 1788 he was nominated a member of the second assembly of the notables, and showed himself unfavourable to the sweeping changes of the revolutionary party. He was created a marshal, and was appointed to the command of the army of the north when war broke out with Austria; but his troops were badly equipped, many of his officers were unfit for their position, his plans were thwarted by the secretary of war, and at length, in 1792, he resigned his command and retired to his estate near Vendôme. He was arrested in 1793, but ultimately obtained his release. Napoleon conferred upon him in 1804 the grand cross of the legion of honour, with a pension. He died in 1807. The Duke de Lauzan says Marshal Rochambeau understood his profession well, and was skilled in manœuvres, but was too fond of displaying them by demonstrations upon his snuff-box or his dining table. His memoirs were published after his death.—His son, Donatien Marie Joseph, born in 1750, attained the rank of lieutenant-general in the French service, distinguished himself in the Italian campaign of 1800 under Suchet, took part in the expedition to St. Domingo in 1802, the chief command of which fell to him on the death of General Le Clerc. He was accused of great cruelty to the inhabitants of that island, and was forced to surrender to the British, who carried him a prisoner to Plymouth. He obtained his liberty in 1811, and was killed at the battle of Leipsic in 1813.—J. T.
ROCHÉ, Maria Regina, a writer of novels and romances, was born in 1764, and died in 1845. Most of her productions were translated into French. A list of them is to be found in Watt's Bibliotheca. A translation of her most celebrated tale, the "Children of the Abbey," the original of which appeared in 1797, was published at Paris as late as 1841.
ROCHEFOUCAULD. See La Rochefoucauld.
ROCHEFOUCAULD-LIANCOURT, François Alexander Frederic, Duc de La, an eminent philanthropist, was born in 1747. His original designation was Duc de Liancourt, but on the assassination of his cousin, the Duc de Rochefoucauld, in 1792, he assumed that celebrated title. The duke held the office of grand-master of the wardrobe to Louis XV. and his successor. Though a stanch royalist, he was favourable to moderate reform, and at the commencement of the Revolution gave his support to the popular cause. By his advice the king recalled Neckar to his councils. He showed the strongest attachment to the person and family of his sovereign, and was always at his side in the scenes of difficulty and danger through which the unhappy monarch was compelled to pass. In 1792 he was appointed governor of Rouen, and offered an asylum in that town to Louis and his family, which, however, was declined. The fury of the anarchists compelled the duke soon after to take refuge in England, where he spent eighteen months, and then visited America for the purpose of examining carefully the institutions of that country. The revolution of the 18th Brumaire, allowed him to return to France. Before his emigration he had instituted on his estate a college for engineers and mechanics, and this he now re-established. Institutions were also founded by him for the poor and for foundlings; he made experiments on vaccination; and zealously devoted himself to promote the welfare of his countrymen. After the first abdication of Napoleon, he was summoned to the house of peers, and pursued a liberal though moderate course in political affairs. He was appointed to a large number of unpaid offices connected with arts and sciences, manufactures, agriculture, &c.; but having expressed his disapproval of the centralization of the authority to control and visit prisons in 1823, the government meanly deprived him of all his places. The affront thus offered to this public-spirited and philanthropic man, excited deep and general indignation throughout France, and the ministers covered themselves with additional disgrace by their conduct on the termination of the duke's honourable career in 1827. The engineers and mechanics for whom he had founded a college, obtained permission from the family to carry the body of their benefactor to the grave. But on the way from the church to the cemetery, the funeral was stopped by an agent of the police. Supported by a company of soldiers, a struggle took place between the people and the troops, in the midst of which the coffin was thrown on the ground and burst asunder. The duke was the author of a number of treatises on Mendicity, Prisons, &c.; of Travels through the United States of America and Upper Canada, in 4 vols., 8vo. His life, written by one of his sons, was published in 1827.—J. T.
