Omar Khayyam. See [Khayyam].
Omboni (Giovanni), Lombard naturalist, b. Abbiategrasso, 29 June, 1829. Is professor of geology at Padua, and author of many scientific works.
Onimus (Ernest Nicolas Joseph), Dr., French Positivist, b. near Mulhouse, 6 Dec. 1840. Studied medicine at Strasburg and Paris, and wrote a treatise on The Dynamical Theory of Heat in Biological Sciences, 1866. In ’73 he was one of the jury of the Vienna Exhibition, and obtained the Cross of the Legion of Honor. Is author of the Psychology in the Plays of Shakespere, ’78, and has written in the Revue Positive and other periodicals.
Oort (Henricus), Dutch rationalist, b. Eemnes, 27 Dec. 1836. Studied theology at Leyden, and became teacher at Amsterdam. Has written many works, of which we mention The Worship of Baalim in Israel, translated by Bp. Colenso, 1865, and The Bible for Young People, written with Drs. Hooykaas and Kuenen, and translated by P. H. Wickstead, 1873–79.
Orelli (Johann Kaspar von), learned Swiss critic, b. Zürich, 13 Feb. 1789. Edited many classics, and wrote a letter in favor of Strauss at the time when there was an outcry at his being appointed Professor at Zürich. Died 6 Jan. 1849.
Osborne (Francis), English writer, b. Clucksand, Beds. 1589. Was an adherent of Cromwell in the Civil War. His Advice to a Son, 1656, was popular though much censured by the Puritans who drew up a complaint against his works and proposed to have them burnt, and an order was passed 27 July, 1658, forbidding them to be sold. Died 1659.
Oscar (L.), Swiss writer, author of Religion Traced Back to its Source, Basel, 1874. He considers religion “a belief in conflict with experience and resting on exaggerated fancies” of animism and mythology. One of his chapters is entitled “The Crucifixion of the Son of God as Christian mythology.”
Ossoli (Countess d’). See [Fuller (Margaret)].
Oswald (Eugen), German teacher in England. Author of many popular school books, and a Study of Positivism in England, 1884.
Oswald (Felix Leopold), American writer, b. Belgium, 1845. Educated as a physician, he has devoted his attention to natural history, and in pursuit of his studies has travelled extensively. He has contributed to the Popular Science Monthly, The Truthseeker and other journals, and has published Summerland Sketches, or Rambles in the Backwoods of Mexico and Central America, ’81; Physical Education, ’82; The Secrets of the East, ’83, which argues that Christianity is derived from Buddhism, and The Bible of Nature or the Principles of Secularism, ’88. Dr. Oswald is now employed as Curator of Natural History in Brazil.