Pitaval

Pitaval, FRANÇOIS GAYOT DE (1673-1743), compiler of the famous collection of Causes Célèbres (q.v.), served in the army, but became an advocate, and was known as an industrious and painstaking compiler. Of his great work there have been numerous abridgments, continuations, and translations; and his name has become so identified with the collecting of criminal cases that a similar work, published by various editors in Leipzig in 1843 and succeeding years, was called Der Neue Pitaval (2d ed. 36 vols. 1857-72; new series, 1866 et seq.).