The universal biographical dictionary; or, An historical account of the ... most eminent persons in every age and nation; particularly the natives of Great Britain and Ireland

who employed him in several embassies. He died in 1449, and his works were published in 1617. His brother, John Chartier, was a benedictine monk, and wrote the chronicles of St. Denys, 3 vols. fol. 1493. His History of Charles VII. was printed in 1661, fol. Moreri.

CHARTIER (René), a native of Vendome, physician to the French king, and royal professor of medicine. He published the works of Hippocrates and Galen in Greek and Latin, 13 vols. fol. He died about 1639.-Ibid. CHASLES (Gregory de), a French writer, was born in 1659, at Paris. He studied in the college de la Marche, after which he went to sea, and was twice taken prisoner; once by the English, and next by the Turks. He however regained his liberty, and died at Paris about 1730. His works are- 1. Les Illustres Françoises, 3 vols. 12mo. Journal d'un voyage fait aux Indes Orientales, 3 vols. 12mo. 3. A continuation of Don Quixote. The "Dictionnaire de Justice," 3 vols. fol. 1725, was compiled by Francis James Chasles. —Ibid.

CHASSENEUZ (Bartholemew), a French advocate, was born at Issy-l'Eveque, in Burgundy, in 1480. He became president of the parliament of Provence, where he prevented the execution of a severe sentence against the inhabitants of Cabrieres and Merindol. He died in 1542. He wrote a Commentary on the Custom of Burgundy, of which there have been many editions, in 2 vols. fol. Ibid. CHASTELAIN (Claude), canon of the church of Paris, where he was born in 1639, and died in 1712. He wrote a Universal Martyrology, 4to.; the Life of St. Chaumont, 12mo.; and the Hagiographical Dictionary. Ibid.

CHASTELET (Gabrielle Emilie de Breteuil, marchioness), an ingenious lady, was born in 1706. She was the daughter of the baron de Breteuil, and the wife of the marquis de Chastelet. She published the Institutes of the Philosophy of Leibnitz, in French, but becoming acquainted with the Principia of Newton, she renounced the system of the German philosopher, and translated that immortal work into her native language, with a commentary, which how ever was not printed till after her death, in 1749.-Dict. Hist.

CHASTELLUX (Francis John, Marquis de), amarshal of France, was born in 1734.

He served with great reputation in America, and in 1765 was an officer in the Guards. In that year he published his "Essay on the union of Poetry and Music," which gave rise to a long controversy. His next work was his "Essai de la felicité publique;" published at Amsterdam, and translated into English under the title of "An Essay on Public Happiness," 2 vols. 8vo. His travels in North America were also translated into English, in 2 vols. 8vo. him is ascribed likewise a piece intituled "Notice sur le vie et les ecrits d'Helvetius." He died at Paris in 1788. — Dict. Hist.

CHATEL (Peter du), in Latin, Castellanus, a learned French divine, was born at Arc, in Burgundy, and educated at Dijon. He assisted Erasmus, in his translations from the Greek, and became corrector of the press in Frobenius's office at Basil. He next studied the law at Bourges, after which he went to Rome with the bishop of Auxerre. From thence he travelled to Venice, and next visited Cyprus, where he read lectures for two years with great success. He afterwards went to Egypt, Jerusalem, and Constantinople, and on his return home was appointed reader to Francis I. who made him bishop of Tulle, and afterwards of Maçon. Henry II. translated him to Orleans, where he died in 1552. He was a strenuous defender of the liberties of the Gallican church, and exceedingly liberal to the protestants. He wrote an oration on Francis, and a Latin letter for that king to Charles V. — Moreri.

CHATELET (Paul Hay, lord of), was born of a noble family in Bretany, in 1593. He wrote most of Richelieu's state papers, and became president of the court of judicature in the army, and counsellor of state. was also one of the first members of the French academy; and a man of irreproachable integrity: but he fell under displeasure for vindicating the Maréchal de Marillac, and the duc de Montmorency. He died in 1636. His works are- 1. Histoire de Bertrand du Guesclin, fol. 2. Observations sur la vie et le condemnation du Maréchal de Marillac, 4to. 3. Plusieurs de pieces pour servir a l'Histoire, fol.; and some poems. Moreri.

CHATTERTON (Thomas), an English poet, was born at Bristol, November 20. 1752. His father was one of the choristers in the cathedral of that city, and also master of a free-school. The ancestors of Chatterton had exercised the office of sexton of St. Mary Redcliffe for a great number of years, to which circumstance is attributed the principal event of his history. At the age of eight he was placed in Colston's charityschool; and in 1767 apprenticed to an attorney, in whose office he had sufficient time for reading. In 1768, when the new bridge at Bristol was completed, he communicated to Farley's newspaper, "A description of the Friars passing over the old

bridge," pretended to be taken from an ancient manuscript. This attracted notice, and many inquiries, in consequence of which Chatterton became known to Mr. Barrett, a surgeon, and who was then engaged in writing a history of Bristol. Chatterton now imparted to his friend several papers which he pretended to have discovered in an old chest in Redcliffe church. Other writings in prose and verse were likewise given by him to Mr. Catcott; and at length Chatterton sent a letter to Mr. Horace Walpole, offering to furnish him with a series of great painters of Bristol, acompanying this proposal with some verses, which he asserted were written in the fourteenth century by Thomas Rowley. Mr. Walpole was much pleased, but on submitting the verses to his friends, Gray and Mason, they both pronounced them forgeries. After some delay these reliques were returned to Chatterton, who having obtained his discharge from his master, visited London in 1769, in full confidence of rising by his talents; but after writing for different magazines, and songs for the public gardens, in a fit of despair, he poisoned himself, August 25, 1770. Some years after this the poems attributed by him to Rowley, were made the subject of a long controversy; but at present no question is made of their being forgeries. The works of Chatterton, with his life prefixed, have been printed, in 3 vols. 8vo.

CHAUCER (Geoffrey), the father of English poetry, was born in London in 1328. He is said to have studied at Cambridge and also at Oxford; after which he travelled into foreign countries, and on his return applied to the law in the Temple, which he soon quitted for the court, and became yeoman to Edward III. who gave him a pension out of the exchequer. About 1360 he married the sister of Catharine Swinford, first the mistress, afterwards the wife of John, duke of Gaunt, which connection procured him the patronage of that prince; and he was appointed squire to the king. In 1372 he was sent on some mission to Genoa, and at his return in 1374 had a grant for life of a pitcher of wine daily from the king's cellar. In the same year he was appointed comptroller of the customs of wool, in the port of London. About a year after this he obtained the wardship of sir Edmund Staplegate's heir, which, with his other emoluments, made his income amount to one thousand a-year. In 1377 he was sent to France, with two others, to treat of a marriage between the prince of Wales and a daughter of the French king. On the accession of Richard II. his annuity was confirmed, with an addition in lieu of the daily allowance of wine; he was also continued in the office of comptroller. Soon after this, however, his affairs became embarrassed, and he was obliged to seek the protection of the king him from his creditors. He

also fell into trouble by taking part with the followers of Wickliffe, and espousing the cause of John Comberton, whose re-election as lord mayor being opposed by the clergy, produced a commotion, in which some lives were lost. For this Comberton was imprisoned; and Chaucer, to avoid the same fate, escaped to Zealand; but after staying some time there, he ventured to return, and was committed to the Tower. His confinement was rigorous; but on making a confession, he obtained his release, when he retired to Woodstock, where in 1389 he began his Canterbury Tales. The same year he was appointed clerk of the works at Westminster, and also of those at Windsor and other palaces. In 1394 he had a new grant of twenty pounds a-year, to which was added, in 1399, a pipe of wine annually. Henry IV. increased the former grant by forty marks; and these favours enabled him to purchase Dunnington castle, in Berkshire. He died October 25. 1400, and was buried in Westminster abbey, where Nicholas Brigham erected a monument to his memory. He left a son named Lewis, for whose use he wrote an astronomical treatise on the Astrolabe. The works of Chaucer remained seventy years in manuscript, and Caxton first selected the Canterbury Tales as one of the earliest productions of his press in 1476. After this the editions of Chaucer down to that of Urry in 1721, fol. are too many to be enumerated. Dryden modernized some of the tales, and Mr. Tyrwhitt published them separately with a glossary at Oxford. — Biog. Brit.

CHAUFEPIE (James George de), a protestant divine, was the son of Samuel de Chaufepié, a minister who was obliged to leave France after the revocation of the edict of Nantz, and settle at Leuwarden, where he died in 1704. This son was born at that place in 1702, and was educated at Franeker, where he published two academical essays; one on Innate Ideas, and the other on the punishment of the Cross. being admitted into the ministry he became a preacher at different places, and lastly at Amsterdam, where he died in 1786. His works are 1. Lettres sur divers sujets importans de la Religion, 12mo. 2. The Life of John Brutel de la Riviere, 3. Three sermons on the truth of the Christian Religion. 4. The Life of Pope, with a translation of his works. 5. The Life of Servetus. But his principal performance is his Nouveau Dictionnaire Historique et Critique pour servir de Supplement, ou de continuation au Dictionnaire de M. Bayle, 4 vols. fol. - Dict. Hist.

CHAULIEU (William Anfreye de), a French poet, was born at Fontenay, in Normandy, in 1639, and educated in the college of Navarre at Paris. The duke de Vendome gave him a priory in the isle of Oleron, to which were afterwards added

other preferments. He died in 1726. The best edition of his peoms is that of Paris, in 2 vols. 8vo. 1774.-. Dict. Hist.

CHAULNES (Albert, duke de), a peer of France, and a mathematician, was born at Paris in 1714, and died in 1769. He was

a member of the academy of sciences, to whom he communicated several improved instruments, and valuable papers on astronomy, optics, and other subjects. Ibid.

CHAUNCY (Henry,) an antiquary, was born in Hertfordshire, in 1632. From Bishop-Stortford school he went to Caiuscollege, Cambridge, and next to the Middle Temple, of which society he became a bencher. In 1681 he received the honour of knighthood, and in 1688 was made a Welsh judge. He died in 1719. Sir Henry published "The Historical Antiquities of Hertfordshire," 1700, fol. of which a new edition by Mr. Clutterbuck has been lately printed. Biog. Brit.

CHAUNCY (Maurice), a Roman Catholic historian, was a monk of the Charter-house in London at the commencement of the Reformation, on which he went to Flanders till the accession of Mary, when he and his brethren had the monastery of Shene. But when Elizabeth came to the throne Chauncy went to Flanders, and died at Bruges in 1581. He wrote "Historia aliquot nostri sæculi Martyrum, cum pia, tum lectu jucunda nunquam antehac typis excusa,' 4to. 1550. This is a very scarce work. Wood.

CHAUVEAU (Francis), a painter and engraver, was born at Paris in 1613, and died there in 1676. His engravings are mostly after his own designs, in a very excellent taste. His son RENE was an ingenious sculptor; and worked for several princes. He died at Paris in 1722. Moreri.

CHAUVIN (Stephen), a protestant divine, was born at Nismes in 1640. He left France on the revocation of the edict of Nantes, and settled at Berlin, where he was chosen professor of philosophy, and died in 1725. He wrote "Lexicon Philosophicum," folio; and a new Journal des Sçavans. Dict. Hist.

CHAZELLES (John Matthew de), a French mathematician, was born at Lyons in 1657. He assisted Cassini in drawing the meridian line, and in 1685 was made hydrographical professor at Marseilles, in which situation he drew a number of maps and plans. He afterwards visited Egypt, where he measured the pyramids, the four sides of the largest of which he found to correspond with the car

CHEKE (sir John), was born at Cambridge in 1514, and educated at St. John's college, where he took his degrees in arts. In 1540 he was appointed first professor of Greek, in which station he laboured with great zeal to restore the correct pronunciation of that language. About 1543 he was incorporated master of arts at Oxford, and the year following appointed one of the tutors of prince Edward, who, at his accession rewarded him with a pension of one hundred marks, and a grant of lands. He was also made provost of King's college, Cambridge, and chief gentleman of the king's privy chamber. In 1551 he received the honour of knighthood, and was nominated chamberlain of the exchequer, clerk of the council, and a privy counsellor. He concurred in the settlement in favour of Lady Jane Grey, for which queen Mary deprived him of his estates and sent him to the Tower. On regaining his liberty, he obtained leave to travel into Italy, from whence he removed to Strasburgh, where he read lectures on the Greek literature. Going, in 1556, to meet his wife at Brussels, he was seized by order of Philip II. and sent to England, where he was again sent to the Tower. The only chance he now had for his life was to abjure his religion, with which he complied, and had his lands restored to him; but what he had done sat so heavy upon his mind, that he died September 13, 1557. His works are-1. Translations of Six of St. Chrysostom's Homilies, 4to. 2. The hurt of Sedition, how grievous it is to a Commonwealth, 4to. 3. A Latin Translation of the English Communion Book. 4. De obitu doctissimi et sanctissimi Theologi domini Mart. Buceri. 5. Carmen heroicum, in Antonium Deneium, 4to. 6. De pronuntiatione Græcæ potissimum linguæ disputationes, 8vo. 7. De superstitione ad regem Henricum. 8. Letters. 9. A Latin Translation of Cranmer's Book

on the Lord's Supper. 10. A Translation of Leo de Apparatu Bellico, 8vo. — Life by Strype.

CHELSUM (James), a divine of the church of England, was born in Westminster in 1740. He received his education at Westminster school, from whence he removed to St. John's college, Cambridge, but soon

finement was rigorous; but on making a confession, he obtained his release, when he retired to Woodstock, where in 1389 he began his Canterbury Tales. The same year he was appointed clerk of the works at Westminster, and also of those at Windsor and other palaces. In 1394 he had a new grant of twenty pounds a-year, to which was added, in 1399, a pipe of wine annually. Henry IV. increased the former grant by forty marks; and these favours enabled him to purchase Dunnington castle, in Berkshire. He died October 25. 1400, and was buried in Westminster abbey, where Nicholas Brigham erected a monument to his memory. He left a son named Lewis, for whose use he wrote an astronomical treatise on the Astrolabe. The works of Chaucer remained seventy years in manuscript, and Caxton first selected the Canterbury Tales as one of the earliest productions of his press in 1476. After this the editions of Chaucer down to that of Urry in 1721, fol. are too many to be enumerated. Dryden modernized some of the tales, and Mr. Tyrwhitt published them separately with a glossary at Oxford. - Biog. Brit.

His works are-1. Lettres sur divers sujets importans de la Religion, 12mo. 2. The Life of John Brutel de la Riviere, 3. Three sermons on the truth of the Christian Religion. 4. The Life of Pope, with a translation of his works. 5. The Life of Servetus. But his principal performance is his Nouveau Dictionnaire Historique et Critique pour servir de Supplement, ou de continuation au Dictionnaire de M. Bayle, 4 vols. fol. -Dict. Hist.

other preferments. He died in 1726. The best edition of his peoms is that of Paris, in 2 vols. 8vo. 1774.- Dict. Hist.

CHAULNES (Albert, duke de), a peer of France, and a mathematician, was born at Paris in 1714, and died in 1769. He was a member of the academy of sciences, to whom he communicated several improved instruments, and valuable papers on astronomy, optics, and other subjects. — Ibid.

CHAUSSE (Michael Angelo de la), a French antiquary, who published at Rome, in 1690, his Museum Romanum, which was reprinted in 1746, in 2 vols. fol. He also published, in 1707, a Collection of Ancient Gems, 4to.; and in 1738, Picture Antiquæ Cryptarum Romanorum et Sepulchri Nasonum, fol. - Dict. Hist. CHAUVEAU (Francis), a painter and engraver, was born at Paris in 1613, and died there in 1676. His engravings are mostly after his own designs, in a very excellent taste. His son RENE was an ingenious sculptor; and worked for several princes. He died at Paris in 1722. Moreri.

CHEFFONTAINES (Christopher), a French divine, was a native of Bretany, and born in 1532. He entered among the cordeliers, of which order he became provincial, and lastly general. In 1579 pope Gregory XIII. made him archbishop of Cæsarea. He died in 1595. His works are- 1. De necessaria Theologia Scholasticæ correctione, 8vo. 2. Confutation du Point d'Honneur, 8vo. 3. De virginitate Mariæ et Josephi, 8vo.

Moreri.

CHEKE (Sir John), was born at Cambridge in 1514, and educated at St. John's college, where he took his degrees in arts. In 1540 he was appointed first professor of Greek, in which station he laboured with great zeal to restore the correct pronunciation of that language. About 1543 he was incorporated master of arts at Oxford, and the year following appointed one of the tutors of prince Edward, who, at his accession rewarded him with a pension of one hundred marks, and a grant of lands. He was also made provost of King's college, Cambridge, and chief gentleman of the king's privy chamber. In 1551 he received the honour of knighthood, and was nominated chamberlain of the exchequer, clerk of the council, and a privy counsellor. He concurred in the settlement in favour of Lady Jane Grey, for which queen Mary deprived him of his estates and sent him to the Tower. On regaining his liberty, he obtained leave to travel into Italy, from whence he removed to Strasburgh, where he read lectures on the Greek literature. Going, in 1556, to meet his wife at Brussels, he was seized by order of Philip II. and sent to England, where he was again sent to the Tower. The only chance he now had for his life was to abjure his religion, with which he complied, and had his lands restored to him; but what he had done sat so heavy upon his mind, that he died September 13, 1557. His works are-1. Translations of Six of St. Chrysostom's Homilies, 4to. 2. The hurt of Sedition, how grievous it is to a Commonwealth, 4to. 3. A Latin Translation of the English Communion Book. 4. De obitu doctissimi et sanctissimi Theologi domini Mart. Buceri. 5. Carmen heroicum, in Antonium Deneium, 4to. 6. De pronuntiatione Græcæ potissimum linguæ disputationes, 8vo. 7. De superstitione ad regem Henricum. 8. Letters. 9. A Latin Translation of Cranmer's Book on the Lord's Supper. 10. A Translation of Leo de Apparatu Bellico, 8vo. - Life by Strype.

CHELSUM (James), a divine of the church of England, was born in Westminster in 1740. He received his education at Westminster school, from whence he removed to St. John's college, Cambridge, but soon

« Vorige Doorgaan »

Boeken