Burmann

Burmann, a Dutch family of scholars, originally from Cologne.—(1) Peter 'the elder,' born at Utrecht in 1668, studied law at Utrecht and Leyden, and next travelled through Germany and Switzerland. At first an advocate, he became professor of History and Rhetoric in the university of Utrecht, afterwards of Greek at Leyden, where he died in 1741. In his literary career, his hot temper and intolerant spirit involved him in many controversies, often with adversaries like Le Clerc and Bentley. His chief works are editions of the Latin classics, in stately quartos, with extensive notes often dreary and tasteless to a degree.—(2) Peter 'the younger,' nephew of the preceding, born in 1714 at Amsterdam, made his studies at Utrecht, and became in succession professor at Franeker, professor at the Amsterdam Athenæum, and keeper of the public library there. He retired in 1777 on a pension, and died the year after. He edited Virgil, Aristophanes, Claudian, and Propertius, and an anthology of the Latin epigrammatists; but his editions are now little valued.