Louis Dutens facts for kids
Louis Dutens (born January 15, 1730 – died May 23, 1812) was a French writer. He was born in Tours, France. His parents were Protestant, a type of Christian faith. Louis Dutens spent most of his life in Britain or working for Britain in other countries.
Contents
Early Life and Learning
Louis Dutens moved to London, England. His uncle worked there as a jeweller. Louis found a job as a tutor for a private family. A tutor is someone who teaches children at home.
In this job, he learned many new things. He studied mathematics, Greek, Italian, and Spanish. He also learned several languages from the Middle East and Asia.
Working for Britain
Dutens later became a priest. In October 1758, he got a job as a chaplain and secretary. He worked for the English ambassador at the court of Turin. Turin is a city in Italy.
From 1760 to 1762, he was a chargé d'affaires in Turin. This means he was in charge of the British embassy when the main ambassador was away. Before he left his job in 1763, Lord Bute helped Dutens get a special payment called a pension.
He went back to Turin as a chargé d'affaires a second time. During this trip, he collected and published all the works of Leibniz. Leibniz was a famous German thinker. Dutens' book was called Gothofridi Guillemi Leibnitii Opera Omnia. It came out in 1768. He also wrote a book called Recherches sur l'origine des découvertes attribuées aux modernes (1766). This book looked at discoveries often thought to be modern.
Life in England and Travels
When Dutens returned to England, the Duke of Northumberland helped him. He got a job as a church leader in Elsdon, Northumberland. The Duke also made Dutens a guide and teacher for his younger son, Algernon Percy.
The Grand Tour
Dutens traveled with Algernon on his Grand Tour. A Grand Tour was a long trip around Europe. Young noblemen took these trips to learn about art, history, and culture.
In 1769, while in Rome, Dutens published a book called Le tocsin. This book was later published in Paris as Appel au bon sens. It was about defending Christian beliefs. Dutens was also active in his local community. He gave a yearly speech to the Charity School of St Nicholas in Newcastle in 1768.
Later Life and Achievements
In 1775, Louis Dutens became a member of two important groups. He joined the French Academy of Inscriptions. This group studies history and old texts. He also became a member of the Royal Society in England. The Royal Society is a famous group for scientists.
Dutens went back to Turin for a third time as a chargé d'affaires. In 1783, he was in Paris. He returned to London the next year.
Between 1775 and 1805, he wrote his own story. It was called Memoirs of a Traveler, Now in Retirement. This book shares many stories from Dutens' life. It also includes interesting facts and stories about important people of his time. Louis Dutens passed away in London in 1812.
