, a very celebrated French astronomer, was born at Bourg, in the
, a very celebrated French astronomer, was born at Bourg, in the department of l'Ain, July 11, 1732. His father, who was
possessed of property, intended him for the bar, and sent
him to Paris to study the law, to which, for some time, he
applied with so much assiduity, as to answer the most sanguine expectations of his friends, when the sight of an
observatory awakened in him a propensity, which deranged
the projects of his parents, and became the ruling passion
of his life. He put himself under the instructions of Le
Monnier, one of the then most celebrated astronomers of
France, and profited so much by the lessons of his able
instructor, as to afford him the highest degree of satisfaction, who, on his part, conceived for the young man a
truly paternal affection, and was determined to promote
his interests. An opportunity soon offered; the great
astronomer Lecaille was preparing to set out for the Cape
of Good Hope, in order to determine the parallax of the
moon, and its distance from the earth. To accomplish this
purpose, it was necessary he should be seconded by an
observer placed under the same meridian, and at the greatest distance that could be conveniently chosen on the
globe. Berlin was fixed on, and Le Monnier signified his
intention of undertaking the business himself, but the mo.ment when he appeared ready to depart, he had the credit
to get his pupil appointed in his stead. Frederic, to whom
Maupertuis had explained the delicacy and difficulty of the
enterprize, could not forbear shewing some astonishment
when the youthful astronomer was presented to him;
“However,
” said he, “the Academy of Sciences has
appointed you, and you will justify their choice.
” From that
moment his age, being only eighteen, was an additional
recommendation; he was admitted at court, welcomed by
the academy, and became intimate with the most distinguished persons at Berlin. On his return, the account
which he gave of his mission procured him free access to
the Academy of Sciences, and its transactions were enriched every year by important communications from the
young astronomer. The active part which he took in the
labours of the academy, was not confined to the astronomical science: we have from his pen, a description of seven
arts, as different from each other, as they are remote from
the objects of his habitual meditations. He published the
French edition of Dr. Halley’s tables, and the history of
the comet of 1759, and he furnished Clairault with immense calculations for the theory of that famous comet.
Being charged in 1760 with the compilation of the “Connoissance des Temps,
” he entirely changed the form of
that work, and of this collection he published thirty-two
volumes, viz. from 1775 to 1807.