Born 1757.--Died 1820.
Born at Craon in Anjou--His name first changed by his
father, and afterward by himself--Studies the sciences with
ardour--Is bequeathed a small sum of money--Determines to
spend it in travelling--Proceeds to Marseilles--Embarks
for Egypt--Alexandria--Cairo--Studies the Arabic--Defends
Herodotus--Proceeds to Syria--Describes Mount Lebanon--Resides
in an Arabian convent--Studies the Arabic--Visits the tribe
of Bedouins--Is invited to reside among them--Describes the
Druzes--Returns to France--Publishes his travels--Acquires a
great reputation--Is compared with Herodotus--Is presented with a
gold medal by the Empress Catherine--Publishes his considerations
on the war between the Turks and Russians--Meditates the
improvement of agriculture--Is elected a member of the Constituent
Assembly--Connexion with Cabanis and Mirabeau--Anecdote--Returns
Catherine her medal, and is abused by Grimm--Visits
Corsica--Publishes the “Law of Nature”--Character of that
work--Is imprisoned as a royalist--Travels in America--Well
received by Washington--Dr. Priestley--Returns to France--Refuses
to share the honours of Napoleon--Marries--Dies 219