Magliabechi, Antonio

Magliabechi, Antonio (äntô`nyō mälyäbĕ`kē), 1633–1714, Italian librarian, b. Florence. Magliabechi was a trained goldsmith who devoted his life to learning, and mastered Greek, Latin, and Hebrew. He became known throughout Europe for his prodigious memory. In 1673 he was appointed court librarian by Cosimo III de' Medici, grand duke of Tuscany. At his death Magliabechi bequeathed his library of 30,000 volumes to the grand duke, who gave it to the city of Florence, where it now forms part of the National Library.