Ricci, Matteo

Ricci, Matteo, founder of the Jesuit missions in China, was born at Macerata, 6th October 1552, studied at Rome, and in 1583 obtained leave to settle at Chow-king. He made his headquarters at Nanking, but was ultimately allowed to remove to Peking, where he built a church. He so mastered Chinese as to write dialogues and other treatises which received much commendation from the Chinese literati, and met with extraordinary success as a missionary. At his death, 11th May 1610, he was universally mourned. See JESUITS, Vol. VI. p. 314.