, a liberal patron of learning, and first president of the parliament
, a
liberal patron of learning, and first president of the parliament of Paris, was born in that metropolis, Jan. L6,
1730, of a family, the branches of which had filled many
distinguished offices in the magistracy, and to which the
subject of the preceding article appears to have been related. From his infancy, Mons. Saron was attached to
mathematical studies, and particularly to calculations, the
most complicated of which he performed with astonishing
facility and many eminent astronomers, who were his
friends, made no scruple to apply to him for assistance of
this kind, which he contributed with the greatest politeness and as very much depends on intricate calculations,
he may justly be allowed to share with them in the honour
of their discoveries. He was, however, among the first
who discovered that Herschell’s new star was a new planet,
and not a comet, as most of the French astronomers
thought. In 1779 he was elected into the academy of
sciences, and contributed to the promotion of their labours, not only by his private studies, which were indeed
rather those of an amateur than of a scholar by profession, but also by his fortune. He made, at a vast expence, a collection of the finest astronomical instruments
of all kinds, which he very willingly lent to those who
wished to make use of them, and never had more pleasure
than when he fancied he was thus supplying the wants of
men of genius. It was also by his liberality that Laplace
was enabled to publish his “Theorie du mouvernent elliptujue et de la figure de terre,
” L'eloge de Saron,
” 8vo, and Cassini paid him a similar
compliment, which, however, was not printed.