Bossuet

Bossuet, Jacques Benigne, orator and theologian, was born in 1627 at Dijon. Destined for the Church from an early age, he was educated in the Jesuits' college at his native place, proceeding in 1642 to Paris, where he continued his studies at College de Navarre. Ordained priest in 1652, he became a canon of Metz, and soon distinguished himself by his Refutation du Catcchisme de Paul Ferry, a Protestant divine. In 1669 he was appointed to the bishopric of Condom, and in 1670 tutor to the Dauphin, for whose edification he wrote Discours sur I'Histoire Universelle, and other works. In 1680 he was elected to the Academy of France, and in the following year was raised to the see of Meaux. In 1682 his Exposition de la Doctrine Catholique, which had been written in 1669, was published, and created great excitement in the Church. Made a member of the Council of State in 1697, he in 1698 became first almoner to the Duchess of Burgundy. The occupation of Bossuet's life, which ended in 1704 at Paris, was controverting Protestantism, and defending the rights and liberties of the Gallican Church.