Boissard, George David Frederic

Boissard, George David Frederic a French Protestant theologian, was born at Montbelliard, Aug. 16, 1783. His first instructor was his father, a Lutheran minister, and he completed his studies at the Central School of Strasburg, where he distinguished himself in mathematics. By the study of theology, he prepared himself for the evangelical ministry, to which he was consecrated Oct. 11, 1803 He was appointed in 1804 pastor of the Lutheran Church of Lille, which he had charge of organizing, and from which he passed, in 1807, to the Church of his communion recently established at Nancy. Two years later he was called to Paris, where he entered upon the duties in the Temple on the Rue de Billettes. His labors were universally esteemed, and he showed remarkable zeal in directing the religious instruction of the colleges of Louis the Great, Henry IV, and St. Louis. He was member of the Society of Evangelical Missions, of the Biblical Society, of the Protestant Society of Forethought and Mutual Relief, of the Society of Christian Morality, and of the Society of Encouragement of Elementary Instruction among the Protestants of France. He died at Paris, Sept. 16, 1836. He wrote a number of books, among which we mention, Catechisime t Usage de v'Enforce Evangelique (Lille): — Discours Prononce dans le Temple Chretien de la Confession d'Augsburg (Paris, 1811): Histoire de la Bible (ibid. 1813): — Celebration de la Troisieme Fete Siculaire de la Reformations (ibid. 1817) Recueil de Cantiques a 'L Usage des Chrntiens Evangeliques, etc. (ibid. 1819). In collaboration with other pastors he published Principes de la Religion Chretienne, etc. (ibid. 1826): — Instructions Chretiennes a l'Usage de la Jeunesse, etc. (ibid. 1832). He also wrote a great number of funeral discourses for the obsequies of various persons; among others, J. M. Soehlne (1815); count Rapp, peer of France (1821); Dr. Wurtz (1823); Clementine Cuvier, daughter of the celebrated naturalist. See Hoefer, Nouv. Biog. Generale, s.v.; Lichtenberger, Encyclop des Sciences Religieuses, s.v.