Dupuis

(Charles François), French astronomer and philosopher, b. Trie-le-Chateau, 16 Oct. 1742. He was educated for the Church, which he left, and married in 1775. He studied under Lalande, and wrote on the origin of the constellations, 1781. In 1788 he became a member of the Academy of Inscriptions. At the Revolution he was chosen a member of the Convention. During the Reign of Terror he saved many lives at his own risk. He was afterwards one of the Council of Five Hundred, and president of the legislative body. His chief work is on the Origin of Religions , 7 vols., 1795, in which he traces solar worship in various faiths, including Christianity. This has been described as “a monument of the erudition of unbelief.” Dupuis died near Dijon, 29 Sept. 1809 .