Gabriel Daniel

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Gabriel Daniel (February 8, 1649 - 1728), French Jesuit historian, was born in Rouen.

He was educated by the Jesuits, entered the order at the age of eighteen, and became superior at Paris. He is best known by his Histoire de France depuis l'établissement de la monarchie française (first complete edition, 1713), which was republished in 1720, 1721, 1725, 1742, and (the last edition, with notes by Henri Griffet) 1755-1760. Daniel published an abridgment in 1724 (English trans., 1726), and another abridgment was published by Dorival in 1751.

Though full of prejudices which affect his accuracy, Daniel had the advantage of consulting valuable original sources. His Histoire de la milice française, etc. (1721) is superior to his Histoire de France. Daniel also wrote a reply to Pascal's Provincial Letters, entitled Entretiens de Cleanthe et d'Eudoxe sur les lettres provinciales (1694); two treatises on Descartes' theory as to the intelligence of the lower animals, and other works.

[edit] References

• Carlos Sommervogel, Bibliothèque de la Compagnie de Jesus, t. ii.
• This article incorporates text from the Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition article "Gabriel Daniel", a publication now in the public domain.