Cottret, Pierre Marie

Cottret, Pierre Marie a French prelate, was born at Argenteuil, near Paris, May 8, 1768. Having completed his classical studies at Sainte-Barbe, he entered the seminary of St. Louis of Paris, at the close of 1785. In April 1791, he was called to the priesthood, privately ordained by the bishop of Oldron, and allowed to depart in disguise. He went to Ghent, where he remained as chaplain of the cathedral until June 1794. Then, after taking refuge for some time in several cities of Germany, he resided at Fritzlau, and thence went to Arolsen as private tutor. After a prolonged sojourn at Frankfort-on-the- Main, he returned to France in October 1800. In 1802 he was appointed to the chapel of Sannois, in the valley of Montmorency; in 1806 rector of Boissy-Sainte-Leger, and the year following returned to Paris. He now became connected with the Gazette de France and the Journal de l'Empire. He was appointed adjunct professor of the faculty of theology in 1809, honorary canon of Notre-Dame of Paris, and vice-promoter-general of the diocese, in 1811; was invested with a canonship in 1812; later was placed at the head of the small seminary of Paris. In 1823 he accompanied cardinal Clermont-Tonnerre to Rome. Leo XII appointed him titular bishop of Carystus, and canon of the first order of the chapter of St. Denis. He retired to the diocese of Versailles, and was thence appointed to the see of Beauvais, Dec. 27, 1837. He died at Beauvais, November 13, 1841. Besides his work for the Gazette de France and the Biographie Universelle of the Michaud brothers, Cottret wrote, from 1822 to 1827, a number of articles upon literary and religious matters in the Tablettes du Clerye, and the Union Ecclesiastique published several letters of this prelate. He also wrote: Considerations sur l'Etat actuel de la Religion

Catholique en France et sur les Moyens de la Retablir (Paris, 1815): — Discours sur la Religion Consideree comme une Necessite de la Societe (1823): — also an edition of the Declaration du Clerge de France de 1682 (Paris, 1811). See Hoefer, Nouv. Biog. Generale, s.v.