Boucher, Nicolas

Boucher, Nicolas a French prelate, was born at Cernai, Nov. 14, 1528. He was the son of a simple laborer, and completed his studies at Paris, after which he became professor of philosophy at Rheins, and then had charge of the university as rector. He was afterwards called to the episcopacy of Verdun. In a work entitled Virdunzensis Episcopatus N. Bocherii (Verdun, 1592), he proved that the Church of Verdun was not dependent upon the Germanic concordat, and Clement VIII sanctioned this doctrine. Although by his own acknowledgment on the side of the princes of Lorraine, he withdrew to tale part with the League. He died April 19, 1593. He wrote Apologie de la Morale d'Aristote contre Omer Talon (ibid. eod.), dedicated to the cardinal of Lorraine, to whom Boucher had been tutor and whose patronage he had obtained. See Hoefer, Nouv. Biog. Generale, s.v.