Dictionary of Indian Biography/Barthelemy Saint-Hilaire, Jules
BARTHELEMY SAINT-HILAIRE, JULES (1805–1895)
Born Aug. 19, 1805, in Paris: studied Sanskrit under Eugene Burnouf: early entered public life: attached to the Ministry of Finance, 1825–38: an editor of the Globe, 1825–30: as a journalist, signed the protest against the July ordinances of Charles X.: became famous as a politician and ardent Republican, and lived through several revolutions: held office several times, as colleague of Victor Cousin in the Ministry of Public Instruction: in 1848, as Secretary of the provisional Government: from 1871, took an active part in public affairs, as member of the National Assembly: Minister of Foreign Affairs in 1880, etc.: yet he was greatest as a scholar, and student of Philosophy: was Professor of Greek and Latin Philosophy at the College de France, 1838–52, Member of the Institute, 1839: in this year, began his study of Sanskrit Philosophy: administrator of the College de France, 1849: accompanied Lesseps on his journey to Egypt, 1855, to explore the Isthmus of Suez. After the death of Eugene Burnouf, Barthelemy took his place as a writer on Indian matters in the Journal des Savants: died Nov. 24, 1895: best known as a Greek scholar: the great achievement of his life was his translation of Aristotle: also did valuable work as an Indianist: among his publications are Des Vedas, 1854: Du Bouddhisme, 1855: Le Bouddha et sa religion, 1866: L'Inde Anglaise, 1887,. etc.