The library of Pierre Daniel Huet, a collection that defined seventeenth-century scholarship, was eventually purchased for the French royal library following his death in 1721. As a philosopher, bishop, and philologist, Huet navigated the intellectual shifts of his era, transitioning from early scientific pursuits in Normandy to a prominent role in the cultural life of Paris.
Early Intellectual Formation
Born in Caen in 1630, Huet received his education at the Collège du Mont. His early academic development was shaped by his interactions with the Protestant pastor Samuel Bochart. During his time in the Swedish royal library, he discovered fragments of Origen’s Commentary on St Matthew, which catalyzed his long-term project of editing and translating the works of the ancient theologian into Latin, a task concluded in 1668.
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Huet was a cofounder of the Académie de Physique in Caen, the first provincial scientific academy to receive a royal charter. Between 1662 and 1667, and again in 1668, he directed the group’s empirical focus, particularly in anatomy and dissections. His own scientific inquiry extended to the mechanics of human vision, facilitated by over 800 dissections, as well as chemistry and astronomy. Upon moving to Paris, he engaged deeply with the intellectual debates of the time, taking a firm stance for the Ancients against Charles Perrault and Jean Desmarets in their literary dispute.
Ecclesiastical and Academic Career
Admitted to the Académie française in 1674, occupying seat 21, Huet eventually took holy orders in 1676. His career included serving as the abbot of Aunay, followed by his appointment as Bishop of Soissons in 1685. He later served as the Roman Catholic Bishop of Avranches from 1692 to 1699. Beyond his administrative duties, he served as assistant tutor to the Dauphin, working alongside Jacques-Bénigne Bossuet and Anne Lefêvre to produce the comprehensive Delphin Classics series.
Written Contributions
Huet’s literary and philosophical output was substantial. He authored the Traitté de l'origine des romans, recognized as the first world history of fiction. His philosophical skepticism was codified in the Traité philosophique de la foiblesse de l’esprit humain, which he regarded as his most significant work. He also produced critical responses to René Descartes, including Censura philosophiae Cartesianae and Nouveau mémoire pour servir à l'histoire du Cartésianisme, while his linguistic skills as an etymologist were highly regarded by contemporaries.
Fast facts
- Born: 1630, Caen
- Died: 1721, Paris
- Education: Collège du Mont
- Académie française: Member, seat 21
- Bishopric: Soissons (1685-1689); Avranches (1692-1699)
- Notable work: Delphin Classics editor
- Burial location: Church Saint-Paul-Saint-Louis of Paris
Questions readers ask
What was the Delphin Classics series?
It was a collection of approximately sixty volumes of Latin classics, edited by Huet for the Dauphin, featuring commentaries, ordo verborum, and indices.
What did Huet contribute to the study of fiction?
He published the Traitté de l'origine des romans in 1670, which serves as the first world history of fiction.
