Guillaume-Francois Berthier

Guillaume-François Berthier

A Jesuit professor and writer, born at Issoudun, 1704; died at Bourges, 1782. He taught philosophy at Rennes and Rouen, and theology at Paris. From 1745 to 1762 he was editor of the "Mémoires de Trévoux," and because of his powerful opposition to the infidel "encyclopédistes" was bitterly attacked, especially by Voltaire. Between 1745 and 1749 he published volumes XIII to XVIII of the history of the French Church (1320-1559). The previous volumes had been prepared by Fathers Longueval (I-VIII), Fontenai (IX, X, and part of XI), and Brumoy (the end of XI and XII). In 1762, when the Society of Jesus was suppressed in France, the Dauphin appointed him tutor of his sons and librarian of the court library, but two years later his position at court became so disagreeable that he left France and spent the following ten years in Germany. On his return in 1774, he retired to Bourges. These years of retirement were spent in study and writing. After his death several of his works were published by Father de Querbuef: (1) A translation of the Psalms with notes (8 vols.); this was often reprinted. (2) Five volumes on Isaiah. (3) Five volumes of "Réflexions Spiritualles."

De Querbeuf in Psaumes traduits, preface; Sommervogel, Bibl. de la c. de J., I, 1377, with complete bibliography; Brucker in Dict. de theol. cath., s.v.

JOHN CORBETT