Étienne Fourmont facts for kids

Étienne Fourmont (born June 23, 1683 – died December 8, 1745) was a French scholar. He was an expert in languages from the East, like Arabic, Hebrew, and Chinese. He taught Arabic at a famous school called the Collège de France. He also wrote important books about the grammar of these languages.

Fourmont is known as one of the first experts in Chinese studies. He did important work on how Chinese characters are formed. However, his early fame was a bit clouded. He gained recognition by using some of the work of Arcadius Huang without giving him enough credit. Fourmont had helped Huang organize a collection of Chinese books for the king. He also sometimes copied parts of other scholars' works.

Étienne Fourmont's Life and Work

Étienne Fourmont was born in a town called Herblay, near Argenteuil in France. He went to school in Paris at the Collège Mazarin and later at the Collège Montaigu. It was there that he became very interested in languages from the East. Soon after leaving college, he published a translation of a religious text.

This is a picture of a Chinese grammar book written by Étienne Fourmont.

Working with Arcadius Huang

In 1711, King Louis XIV asked Fourmont to help Arcadius Huang. Huang was a Chinese person who had become Catholic. Their job was to organize the French king's large collection of Chinese books. They also worked together to create a Chinese dictionary.

One day, Fourmont was found copying Huang's notes. After Huang passed away in 1716, people wondered if Fourmont had given Huang enough credit for his hard work. Fourmont quickly took over Huang's project. He finished the catalog of Chinese books and published it in Paris in 1737. He also wrote other books about ancient peoples and published several essays.

His Chinese Grammar Book

Fourmont's most famous book was his Chinese grammar, published in 1737. This book was largely a copy of an earlier Chinese grammar written by Francisco Varo. Fourmont added Chinese characters to it.

Becoming a Professor and Scholar

In 1715, Fourmont became a professor of Arabic at the Collège de France. This was a very important position. In 1713, he was chosen to be a member of the Academy of Inscriptions. Later, in 1738, he became a member of the Royal Society of London. In 1742, he joined the Academy in Berlin. Étienne Fourmont passed away in Paris on December 8, 1745.

His brother, Michel Fourmont, was also a scholar. He was a member of the Academy of Inscriptions and taught the Syriac language at the Royal College.