Francois, Laurent

Francois, Laurent a French abbe, was born November 2, 1698, at Arinthod (Franche-Comte), and died at Paris February 24, 1782. He was for some time a chevalier of St. Lazarus, but, quitting that society, went to Paris, and engaged in teaching. He there composed several books, defending Christianity against the attacks of the philosophers, which attracted the attention of Voltaire, who sought to cast ridicule upon their author, but only succeeded in giving him a more prominent position in the list of apologists. His principal works are, Les Preuves de la Religion de Jesus-Christ, contre les spinosistes et deistes (Par. 1751, 4 volumes 12mo): — Defense de la Religion Chretienne contre les difficultes des incredules (Paris, 1755, 2 volumes, 12mo): — Examen du Catechisme de l'honnete homme, etc. (Brussels and Paris, 1764, 12mo): — Reponse aux difficultes proposees contre la religion Chretienne par J.J. Rousseau, etc. (Paris, 1765, 12mo): — Examen des faits qui servent de fondement a la religion Chretienne, etc. (Paris, 1767, 3 volumes 12mo): — Observations sur la "Philosophie de l'Histoire" et sur le "Dictionnaire philosophique," avec des reponses a plusieurs diffcultes (Paris, 1770, 2 volumes, 8vo). — Hoefer, Nouv. Biog. Generale, 18:547; Rose, New General Biog. Dict. 7:440. (J.W.M.)