Carron, Guy Toussaint Julien, Abbé

a French philanthropist, was born at Rennes, Feb. 23, 1760. He was tonsured at the age of thirteen, and taught the children of the suffering classes, and relieved their wants. In 1785, having been impressed by the disorder arising from beggary throughout his province, he conceived the idea of erecting an institution of charity, for which he interested a number of noble families, who contributed large sums to the execution of his plan; so that the city of Rennes, in 1791, came into possession of cotton spinning mills, weaving establishments, etc., which occupied more than two thousand working people of both sexes, under his direction. In 1792, having been banished to the island of Jersey, together with many others during the French Revolution, he established there two schools for the instruction of young French refugees, a new chapel for Catholic worship, and a library for divines. In 1796 he went to London, where he received contributions which greatly extended his works of charity. At Somerstown, a suburb of London, a building was erected, for the instruction of French youth. He returned to Paris in 1814, and died there, March 15, 1821. The active charity and constant occupation of abbé Carron did not prevent his devoting himself to his ministry, nor from writing religious books for the instruction or edification of the faithful. See Hoefer, Nouv. Biog. Géneralé, s.v.