A French mathematician, born in Florence, Jan. 2, 1803, died at Fiesole, near Florence, Sept. 28,1869. He became professor of mathematics at the university of Pisa, but, having been compromised by his political views, fled in 1830 to France. Being naturalized as a Frenchman (Jan. 2, 1833), he was called to the academy of sciences as successor of Legendre, became inspector general of public instruction, and inspector general of the libraries of France, an office created expressly for him. Several works were published by him during this period, among which were Histoire des sciences mathematiqnes en Italie depuis la renaissance jusqu'a la Jin du 17 siecle (Paris, 1838-'41; 2d ed., Halle, 1865); Souveniirs de la jeunesse de Nayoleon (1842); and Lettres sur le clerge et la liberte de l'enseignement'(1844); besides many memoirs, articles in magazines, and bibliographical labors in the form of annotated catalogues. During the latter part of the reign of Louis Philippe he was accused of purloining the most precious books and manuscripts from the libraries of Grenoble, Montpellier, Troves, Poitiers, and Albi, as well as from the Mazarin collection and that of the arsenal.

A report on this subject by M. Bouchy estimated his literary thefts from 1842 to 1847 at more than 500,000francs. Libri, who had escaped to London, was found guilty and condemned (June 22, 1850) to ten years' imprisonment and degradation from public employment. In England, where he long resided, he was believed to be innocent. He left unfinished a life of Galileo.