Rousseau Jean Baptiste

Rousseau, Jean Baptiste (1670-1741), French poet, was the son of a shoemaker, and was born in Paris. He received a good education, and was appointed page to the French ambassador in Denmark, and afterwards secretary to the French Embassy in London. He wrote a great many poems, and in 1712 was banished from France for, as was said, writing libellous verses, but he always strenuously denied the authorship. He went to Switzerland, and thence to Vienna, where Prince Eugene protected him. He died in Brussels, leaving a great reputation as a lyrical poet. His poems, now seldom read, were published in 2 vols. in 1723.