Berthier, Guillaume FrançoIs

Berthier, Guillaume François a Jesuit writer, born April 7th, 1704. He was first professor of the Humanities at Blois, and afterward of theology at Paris. The talent which he displayed caused him to be appointed to succeed Brumoy in 1742 as continuator of the history of the Gallican Church (Histoire de l'eglise Gallicane), of which he published six volumes, carrying the history to A.D. 1529. In 1745 his superiors intrusted him with the direction of the Journal de Trevoux, which he edited until the suppression of the company. While thus employed he was necessarily brought into collision with Voltaire, whose works he freely criticised and stigmatized. In 1764 the ex-Jesuits were banished from court, whereupon he retired beyond the Rhine, and died at Bourges December 15th, 1782. After his death appeared his OEuvres Spirituelles (5 vols. 12mo, best ed. Paris, 1811): Psaumes et Isaie, trad. avec Reflexions et Notes (Paris, 1788, 5 vols. 12mo). — Hoefer, Nouv. Biog. Generale, 5, 507.