Muret(Us), Marc Anthony

Muret(us), Marc Anthony a celebrated Roman Catholic scholar, best known by his philosophical writings, was born at Muret, a village near Limoges, in France, April 11, 1526, of a good family. But little beyond this is known of his early life. When about eighteen we find him studying at Agens, under Scaliger, who interested himself in Muretus, and ever cherished the highest opinion of his pupil. In 1552 he delivered in the church of the Bernardins his first oration, De dignitate ac prestantia studii theologici. He was at this time teaching philosophy and law at Paris, but evidently leaning towards the sacred ministry. Accused of immoral practices, he was finally obliged to quit Paris, and he led for some time a roaming life. He went to different places, everywhere commanding for a time the respect of his followers by his vast and varied erudition, but his immoral tendencies would ever compromise him, and he was soon ignored by his associates. About 1560 Muretus found employment under cardinal Este at Rome, and from that time he is believed to have led a more regular life. In 1562 he attended his patron on a visit to Paris, and there remained, and was prevailed upon to lecture on Aristotle's Ethics, which he did with singular applause up to 1567. After that he taught civil law. In 1576 he entered holy orders, and is believed to have become both priest and Jesuit. He died June 4, 1585. He was made a citizen of Rome, probably by pope Gregory XIII, who esteemed him very highly. Muretus's theology is questioned, and he is believed to have cherished deistical views. See Niceron, Memoires, volume 27, s.v.; Beze, Hist. Ecclesiastes 4:534; Vitrac, Eloge de Muret; New Genesis Biog. Dict. (Lond. 1798), 11:138, 141; Hallam, Introd. to the Literature of Europe (Harper's ed.), 1:247, 257, 356: Pye Smith, Outlines (of Theol. page 111. (J.H.W.)