Bochart, SAMUEL

Bochart, SAMUEL, a learned Protestant divine, was born of a good family at Rouen in 1599. He very early exhibited a remarkable aptitude for learning languages, and after extensive studies, especially in the Semitic languages, at Paris, Sedan, Saumur, and Leyden, was chosen pastor of the Protestant church at Caen. Here in 1629 he gained great reputation by his victory in a public discussion of nine days' duration over the famous Jesuit, Verin. In 1646 he published his Geographia Sacra, a work of marvellous erudition. In 1652 he went to Stockholm along with his disciple, Huet, on the invitation of Queen Christina. The court-life, however, did not suit him, and his visit was short. His great work, Hierozoicon, sive de Animalibus Scripturæ Sacræ, published in 1663, had afterwards the honour of being commended by Cuvier. He died suddenly, May 16, 1667. A complete edition of his numerous works was published at Leyden in 1712; and a new edition of the Hierozoicon at Leipzig, in 3 vols. (1793-99).