Nicolas Flamel, a French scribe and reputed alchemist, born about 1330, died in Paris, March 22, 1418. He combined the occupations of copyist and bookseller, married Pernelle, a widow of some property, and also received pupils in his house, to whom he taught writing and the rudiments of letters. The means which he thus acquired were profitably invested, and the products of his industry and rents enabled him to build hospitals and free lodging houses, found chapels, and endow churches, which he often adorned with paintings and sculptures, especially with bass reliefs of himself and his wife. His fame increased after his death, and the attempt to account for a fortune which had been magnified by popular credulity resulted in attributing to him the possession of the philosopher's stone. In 15(31 the Sommaire philosophique, a metrical treatise on alchemy, was published probably by Gohorry, under the name of Flamel; and it completely established his reputation as an alchemist till Vilain critically investigated his history (1761). It has been conjectured that the Jews, who were then much persecuted in France, made him the depositary of their wealth; or, which is still more improbable, that the cabalistic book of Habraham Juif, which he is said to have studied, contained emblematic signs of the various places where the Jews, expelled from the kingdom, had buried their treasures.