Alfarabi

Alfarabi, an Eastern philosopher, born at Farab, across the Oxus. After studying at Bagdad, he travelled widely, and, on finally settling at Damascus, he was received with honour by the calif, who assigned him a pension, which he enjoyed till his death in 950. He led a life retired and temperate, almost ascetic. The subjects of his voluminous writings embrace almost every known science; but he is most worthy of remembrance as the first to attempt the compilation of an Encyclopædia, the MS. of which is in the library of the Escorial.