Isaac de Casaubon Swiss philologist Date of Birth: 18.02.1559 Country: Switzerland

1. Early Life and Education
2. Academic Career
3. Reputation and Contributions
4. Later Life and Legacy

Early Life and Education

Isaac Casaubon was born in Geneva, Switzerland, to a family of Huguenot refugees who had fled France due to religious persecution. From a young age, he displayed an exceptional aptitude for languages and classical literature.

Academic Career

At the age of 22, Casaubon was appointed Professor of Greek at the University of Geneva. He subsequently taught at the University of Montpellier (1596) and the Collège de France in Paris (1598). After the assassination of Henry IV of France, Casaubon accepted an invitation from King James I of England to become his librarian.

Reputation and Contributions

Casaubon was widely regarded as one of the most learned men in Europe. His writings on classical philology, religious history, and ecclesiastical matters were highly influential. His most notable works include:

- "De satyrica Graecorum poesi et Romanorum satira" (1605): A treatise on satire in Greek and Roman literature.

- "De libertate ecclesiastica" (1607): A defense of religious freedom.

- "De rebus sacris et ecclesiasticis. Exercitationes ad Baronii prolegomena in annales" (1614): A commentary on the "Ecclesiastical Annals" of Caesar Baronius.

Later Life and Legacy

In 1614, Casaubon published his seminal work on hermeticism, challenging the authenticity of ancient texts such as the "Corpus Hermeticum." He was buried in the Poets' Corner of Westminster Abbey after his death in 1614. Casaubon's contributions to scholarship continue to be highly esteemed and his legacy as a renowned philologist endures to this day.