A Biographical Dictionary of Freethinkers of All Ages and NationsWheeler, J. M. (Joseph Mazzini)
Religion
A Biographical Dictionary of Freethinkers of All Ages and Nations
Wheeler, J. M. (Joseph Mazzini)
Free thought -- Biography
Dulaurens (Henri Joseph). French satirist, b. Douay, 27 March, 1719. He
was brought up in a convent, and made a priest 12 Nov. 1727. Published
a satire against the Jesuits, 1761, he was compelled to fly to
Holland, where he lived in poverty. He edited L'Evangile de la Raison,
a collection of anti-Christian tracts by Voltaire and others, and
wrote L'Antipapisme révelé in 1767. He was in that year condemned
to perpetual imprisonment for heresy, and shut in the convent of
Mariabaum, where he died 1797. Dulaurens was caustic, cynical and
vivacious. He is also credited with the Portfolios of a Philosopher,
mostly taken from the Analysis of Bayle, Cologne, 1770.
Dulk (Albert Friedrich Benno), German poet and writer, b. Konigsberg,
17 June, 1819; he became a physician, but was expelled for aiding
in the Revolution of '48. He travelled in Italy and Egypt. In '65
he published Jesus der Christ, embodying rationalism in prose and
verse. He has also written Stimme der Menschheit, 2 vols., '76,
'80, and Der Irrgang des Lebens Jesu, '84, besides numerous plays
and pamphlets. Died 29 Oct. 1884.
Dumont (Léon), French writer, b. Valenciennes, 1837. Studied for
the bar, but took to philosophy and literature. He early embraced
Darwinism, and wrote on Hæckel and the Theory of Evolution, '73. He
wrote in La Revue Philosophique, and other journals. Died Valenciennes,
17 Jan. 1877.
Dumarsais (César Chesneau), French grammarian and philosopher,
b. Marseilles, 17 July, 1676. When young he entered the congregation
of the oratory. This society he soon quitted, and went to Paris,
where he married. A friend of Boindin and Alembert, he wrote against
the pretensions of Rome and contributed to the Encyclopédie. He is
credited with An Analysis of the Christian Religion and with the
celebrated Essai sur les Préjugés, par Mr. D. M., but the latter was
probably written by Holbach, with notes by Naigeon. Le Philosophe,
published in L'Evangile de la Raison by Dulaurens, was written by
Voltaire. Died 11 June, 1756. Dumarsais was very simple in character,
and was styled by D'Alembert the La Fontaine of philosophers.
Dumont (Pierre Etienne Louis), Swiss writer, b. Geneva, 18 July,
1759. Was brought up as a minister, but went to France and became
secretary to Mirabeau. After the Revolution he came to England, where
he became acquainted with Bentham, whose works he translated. Died
Milan, 29 Sept. 1829.
Duncker (Maximilian Wolfgang), German historian, b. Berlin, 15
Oct. 1811. His chief work, the History of Antiquity, 1852-57,
thoroughly abolishes the old distinction of sacred and profane
history, and freely criticises the Jewish records. A translation in
six volumes has been made by E. Abbot. Duncker took an active part
in the events of '48 and '50, and was appointed Director-General of
the State Archives. Died 24 July, 1886.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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