Jean-Pierre Nicéron
Encyclopedia
Jean-Pierre Nicéron was a French lexicographer.
He was born in Paris. After his studies at the Collège Mazarin, he joined the Barnabites
(August, 1702). He taught rhetoric in the college of Loches
, and soon after at Montargis
, where he remained ten years.
While engaged in teaching, he made a thorough study of modern languages. In 1716 he went to Paris and devoted his time to literary work. His aim was to put together, in a logically arranged compendium, a series of biographical and bibliographical articles on the men who had distinguished themselves in literature and sciences since the time of the Renaissance.
After eleven years he published the first volume of his monumental work under the title of "Mémoires pour servir à l'histoire des hommes illustres de la république des lettres avec le catalogue raisonné de leurs ouvrages" (Paris, 1727). Thirty-eight volumes followed from 1728 to 1738. The last volume from his pen was published two years after the author's death (Paris, 1740).
Casimir Oudin
, J.-B. Michauld, and Abbé Goujet later contributed three volumes to the collection. A German translation of it was published in 1747–1777.
It has been said that this work lacks method, and that the length of many articles is out of proportion to the value of the men to whom they are devoted. The "Mémoires" do contain a great amount of information that could hardly be obtained elsewhere. They refer also to sources which could be easily overlooked or ignored.
He translated also various books from English, including "Le voyage de Jean Ovington à Surate et en divers autres lieux de l'Asie et de l'Afrique, avec l'histoire de la révolution arrivée dans le royaume de Golconde" (Paris, 1725); "La Conversion de l'Angleterre au Christianisme comparée avec sa prétendue réformation" (Paris, 1729).
He was born in Paris. After his studies at the Collège Mazarin, he joined the Barnabites
Barnabites
The Barnabites, or Clerics Regular of Saint Paul is a Roman Catholic order.-Establishment of the Order :It was founded in 1530 by three Italian noblemen: St. Anthony Mary Zaccaria The Barnabites, or Clerics Regular of Saint Paul (Latin: Clerici Regulares Sancti Pauli, abbr. B.) is a Roman Catholic...
(August, 1702). He taught rhetoric in the college of Loches
Loches
Loches is a commune in the Indre-et-Loire department in central France.It is situated southeast of Tours by railway, on the left bank of the Indre River.-History:...
, and soon after at Montargis
Montargis
Montargis is a commune in the Loiret department in north-central France. The town is located about south of Paris and east of Orléans in the Gâtinais....
, where he remained ten years.
While engaged in teaching, he made a thorough study of modern languages. In 1716 he went to Paris and devoted his time to literary work. His aim was to put together, in a logically arranged compendium, a series of biographical and bibliographical articles on the men who had distinguished themselves in literature and sciences since the time of the Renaissance.
After eleven years he published the first volume of his monumental work under the title of "Mémoires pour servir à l'histoire des hommes illustres de la république des lettres avec le catalogue raisonné de leurs ouvrages" (Paris, 1727). Thirty-eight volumes followed from 1728 to 1738. The last volume from his pen was published two years after the author's death (Paris, 1740).
Casimir Oudin
Casimir Oudin
Remi-Casimir Oudin was a French Premonstratensian monk and bibliographer, who later in life was a Protestant convert, and a librarian in Leyden.He engaged in controversy with Anselmo Banduri...
, J.-B. Michauld, and Abbé Goujet later contributed three volumes to the collection. A German translation of it was published in 1747–1777.
It has been said that this work lacks method, and that the length of many articles is out of proportion to the value of the men to whom they are devoted. The "Mémoires" do contain a great amount of information that could hardly be obtained elsewhere. They refer also to sources which could be easily overlooked or ignored.
He translated also various books from English, including "Le voyage de Jean Ovington à Surate et en divers autres lieux de l'Asie et de l'Afrique, avec l'histoire de la révolution arrivée dans le royaume de Golconde" (Paris, 1725); "La Conversion de l'Angleterre au Christianisme comparée avec sa prétendue réformation" (Paris, 1729).