SAURIN (Joseph)

, an ingenious French mathematician, was born in 1659, at Courtaison, in the principality of Orange. His father, minister at Grenoble, was a man of a very studious disposition, and was the first preceptor or instructor to our author; who made a rapid progress in his studies, and at a very early age was admitted a minister at Eure in Dauphiny. But preaching an offensive sermon, he was obliged to quit France in 1683. On this occasion he retired to Geneva; from whence he went into the State of Berne, and was appointed to a living at Yverdun. He was no sooner established in this his post, than certain theologians raised a storm against him. Saurin, disgusted with the controversy, and still more with the Swiss, where his talents were buried, passed into Holland, and from thence into France, where he put himself under the protection of the celebrated Bossu, to whom he made his abjuration in 1690, as it is suspected, that he might find protection, and have an opportunity of cultivating the sciences at Paris. And he was not disappointed: he met with many slattering encouragements; was even much noticed by the king, had a pension from the court, and was admitted of the Academy of Sciences in 1707, in the quality of geometrician. This science was now his chief study and delight; with many writings upon which he enriched the volumes of the Journal des Savans, and the Memoirs of the Academy of Sciences. These were the only works of this kind that he published: he was author of several other pieces of a controversial nature, against the celebrated Rousseau, and other antagonists, over whom with the assistance of government he was enabled to triumph. The latter part of his life was spent in more peace, and in cultivating the mathematical sciences; and he died the 29th of December 1737, of a lethargic fever, at 78 years of age.

The character of Saurin was lively and impetuous, endued with a considerable degree of that noble independence and loftiness of manner, which is apt to be mistaken for haughtiness or insolence; in consequence of which, his memory was attacked after his death, as his reputation had been during his life; and it was even | said he had been guilty of crimes, by his own confession, that ought to have been punished with death.

Saurin's mathematical and philosophical papers, printed in the Memoirs of the Academy of Sciences, which are pretty numerous, are to be found in the volumes for the years following; viz, 1709, 1710, 1713, 1716, 1718, 1720, 1722, 1723, 1725, 1727.

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Entry taken from A Mathematical and Philosophical Dictionary, by Charles Hutton, 1796.

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SATURDAY
SATURN
SAUCISSE
SAVILLE (Sir Henry)
SAUNDERSON (Dr. Nicholas)
* SAURIN (Joseph)
SAUVEUR (Joseph)
SCALE
SCALENE
SCALIGER (Joseph Justus)
SCANTLING