François Catrou
Encyclopedia
François Catrou (December 28, 1659 – October 12, 1737) was a French
historian, translator, and Jesuit
priest.
. During his regular period of Jesuit probation and study his talents for preaching were discovered, and at the completion of his studies in 1690 he began his active career as a preacher, in which office he continued for ten years with remarkable success. In 1701 he founded the "Journal de Trévoux", and was an active member of its staff for twelve years. He died in Paris.
. It was translated into Italian as "Istoria generale del Imperio del Mogul" by Domenico Occhi and published in Venice in 1751. An English translation, the "History of the Mogul Dynasty" was published in London in 1826 and again, in 1907.
s and the Quakers. The best edition is that published in two duodecimo volumes in Paris in 1740.
, who in his Roman History drew freely from the text of Catrou and more freely from the critical notes of Rouillé.
contained critical and historical notes. The translation is at all times free and not infrequently inaccurate. The notes and the accompanying life of Virgil manifest a thorough acquaintance with both poem and poet. Catrou's Virgil was a constant companion of the historian Edward Gibbon
during his early studies. "I always consulted the most learned and ingenious commentators" he writes in his autobiography; "Torrentius and Dacier on Horace, and Catrou and Servius on Virgil".
The original article was by Dennis J. Kavanagh.
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
historian, translator, and Jesuit
Society of Jesus
The Society of Jesus is a Catholic male religious order that follows the teachings of the Catholic Church. The members are called Jesuits, and are also known colloquially as "God's Army" and as "The Company," these being references to founder Ignatius of Loyola's military background and a...
priest.
Life
Catrou was born in Paris, the son of Mathurin Catrou, secretary to Louis XIV. During his college days a marked facility and grace in composition gave promise of his future literary success. At eighteen he entered the Society of JesusSociety of Jesus
The Society of Jesus is a Catholic male religious order that follows the teachings of the Catholic Church. The members are called Jesuits, and are also known colloquially as "God's Army" and as "The Company," these being references to founder Ignatius of Loyola's military background and a...
. During his regular period of Jesuit probation and study his talents for preaching were discovered, and at the completion of his studies in 1690 he began his active career as a preacher, in which office he continued for ten years with remarkable success. In 1701 he founded the "Journal de Trévoux", and was an active member of its staff for twelve years. He died in Paris.
Works
While engaged in journalistic duties Catrou found time for historical research, and to his productions in this line his fame is chiefly due.History of the Mogul Dynasty
The Histoire generale de l'empire du Mogul was published in five duodecimo volumes in 1715. The matter was drawn, in the main, from the memoirs of the Venetian traveller Niccolao ManucciNiccolao Manucci
Niccolao Manucci was an Italian writer and traveller. He worked in the Mughal court. He worked in the service of Dara Shikoh, Shah Alam, Raja Jai Singh and Kirat Singh.- Storia do Mogor :...
. It was translated into Italian as "Istoria generale del Imperio del Mogul" by Domenico Occhi and published in Venice in 1751. An English translation, the "History of the Mogul Dynasty" was published in London in 1826 and again, in 1907.
History of Fanaticism in the Protestant Religion
Catrou's "Histoire du fanatisme dans la religion protestante" was a controversial work dealing principally with the AnabaptistAnabaptist
Anabaptists are Protestant Christians of the Radical Reformation of 16th-century Europe, and their direct descendants, particularly the Amish, Brethren, Hutterites, and Mennonites....
s and the Quakers. The best edition is that published in two duodecimo volumes in Paris in 1740.
Roman History
The "Histoire romaine", with geographical and critical notes, was published in twenty-one quarto volumes between the years of 1725 and 1737. It was edited a second time in 1737. The notes are from the pen of P. Rouillé, S.J. This gigantic work was translated into Italian by Fra Zannino Marsecco in Venice in 1730-37, and into English by R. Bundy, as The Roman History with Notes, done into English from the Original French of the Rev. Fathers Catrou and Rouillé in London in 1728-37, in six folio volumes. The French work was highly praised at the time for its deep research and solid reasoning, but its somewhat pompous style soon brought severe censure from the critics. Its appearance in an English dress gave occasion to some very bitter attacks; but, though censured, this work provided inspiration to British historian Nathaniel HookeNathaniel Hooke
Nathaniel Hooke was an English historian.-Life:He was the eldest son of John Hooke, serjeant-at-law, and nephew of Nathaniel Hooke the Jacobite politician. He is thought by John Kirk to have studied with Alexander Pope at Twyford School, and to have formed a lifelong friendship there.He was...
, who in his Roman History drew freely from the text of Catrou and more freely from the critical notes of Rouillé.
Translation of Virgil
Catrou's translation of VirgilVirgil
Publius Vergilius Maro, usually called Virgil or Vergil in English , was an ancient Roman poet of the Augustan period. He is known for three major works of Latin literature, the Eclogues , the Georgics, and the epic Aeneid...
contained critical and historical notes. The translation is at all times free and not infrequently inaccurate. The notes and the accompanying life of Virgil manifest a thorough acquaintance with both poem and poet. Catrou's Virgil was a constant companion of the historian Edward Gibbon
Edward Gibbon
Edward Gibbon was an English historian and Member of Parliament...
during his early studies. "I always consulted the most learned and ingenious commentators" he writes in his autobiography; "Torrentius and Dacier on Horace, and Catrou and Servius on Virgil".
The original article was by Dennis J. Kavanagh.