Calmet

Calmet, AUGUSTINE, a learned Benedictine, was born at Mesnil-la-Horgue, near Commercy, February 26, 1672. Entering the order of Benedictines in 1689, he was successively appointed teacher of philosophy and theology in the Abbey Moyenne-Moutier (1698), sub-prior at Münster in Alsace (1704), prior at Lay (1715), abbot of St Leopold (1718), and abbot of Senones in Lorraine (1728). He died at Paris, October 25, 1757. His exegetical writings have been commended by both Roman Catholics and Protestants. The Commentary on the Bible (23 vols. Paris, 1707-16), though marred by the author's defective knowledge of the oriental languages, contains valuable researches in biblical antiquities. His Historical and Critical Dictionary of the Bible (4 vols. 1722-28)—the first work of its kind—was translated into English, German, and other languages, and has passed through many editions. Of Calmet's other works, a History of the Bible and of the Jews (2 vols. 1718) and a Universal History (17 vols. 1735-71) are mere compilations; but his History of Lorraine (4 vols. 1728) is founded on original researches. See Lives of him by Digot (Nancy, 1861), and Guillaume (ib. 1875).