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Pierre Coste
Portret van Pierre Coste, RP-P-1910-6500.jpg
Born
Pierre Coste

(1668-10-27)27 October 1668
Died 24 January 1747(1747-01-24) (aged 78)
Paris
Nationality French
Occupation theologian, translator and writer.
Awards FRS

Pierre Coste was a French writer, translator, and theologian. He lived a long time ago, from 1668 to 1747. He became famous for translating important books by well-known thinkers like John Locke and Isaac Newton.

Who Was Pierre Coste?

Pierre Coste was born in a town called Uzès in France. His parents were Protestants, a group of Christians who faced difficulties in France at that time.

Early Life and Moving to England

In 1685, when Pierre was about 17 years old, the King of France took away the rights of Protestants. This event was called the Revocation of the Edict of Nantes. Because of this, many Protestants, including Pierre, had to leave France.

Pierre Coste traveled through Switzerland and Holland before settling in England. He found a new home there, where he could practice his religion freely.

A Life of Translation and Teaching

In England, Pierre Coste became a very important translator. A translator is someone who changes words from one language to another. He helped share big ideas by translating famous books from English into French.

One of his most important translations was An Essay Concerning Human Understanding by John Locke. This book was about how people think and learn. He also translated the second English edition of Opticks by Isaac Newton, a book about light and colors.

Besides translating, Pierre Coste also worked as a tutor. A tutor is a private teacher who helps students learn. He taught the sons of several important families in England.

Honored for His Work

Pierre Coste's hard work and intelligence were recognized. In 1742, he was chosen to be a Fellow of the Royal Society. The Royal Society is a very old and respected group of scientists and thinkers in England. Being a Fellow means you are considered an expert in your field.

Later Years

Around 1735, Pierre Coste moved back to Paris, France, to get married. However, after his wife passed away, he returned to England. He eventually died in Paris in 1747.

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