Lalande

(Joseph Jèrome le Franc a is de), distinguished French astronomer, b. Bourg en Bre e, 11 July 1732. Educated by the Jesuits, he was made a member of the Academy of Sciences in his 20th year. In 1762 he became Profe or of Astronomy at the College of France. In 1764 he published his Treatise of Astronomy , to which Dupuis subjoined a memoir, which formed the basis of his Origin of all Religions , the idea of which he had taken from Lalande . In Aug 1793 Lalande hazarded his own life to save Dupont de Nemours, and some priests whom he concealed in the observatory of Mazarin college. It was upon Lalande’s observations that the Republican calender was drawn up. At Lalande’s instigation Sylva in Maréchal published his Dictionary of Atheists , to which the astronomer contributed supplements after Maréchal’s death. Lalande profe ed himself prouder of being an Atheist than of being an astronomer. His Bibliographie Astronomique is called by Prof. de Morgan “a perfect model of scientific bibliography.” It was said that never did a young man addre himself to Lalande without receiving proof of his generosity. He died at Paris 4 April, 1807.