Charles Irenee Castel Saint-Pierre
Charles Irenee Castel Saint-Pierre [1]
a French ecclesiastic, was born near Barfleur, Normandy, Feb. 18, 1658. He was educated by the Jesuits at Caen, and joined the priesthood. He went to Paris in 1686, and succeeded Bergeret in the Academy, 1695. He became chaplain of the bishop of Orleans in 1702, and received, through him, the abbey of Tiron. He, attended the Congress of Utrecht with cardinal Polignac in 1712. In some of his writings (Discours sur la Polysynodie) he severely judged Louis XIV, and advocated a constitutional government. For this he was expelled from the Academy; but an association known as the Club de l'Etresol gave him opportunities to expound his humanitarian schemes. It was closed seven years after (1731) by cardinal Fleury. He died April 29, 1743. Most of his writings are included in his Ouvrages de Politique et de Morale (Rotterdam, 1738-41, 18 vols.).
