Thevet, Andre

Thevet, Andre a writer of some note in the 16th century, was born at Angouleme, France, and entered the Franciscan Order, and afterwards visited Italy, the Holy Land, Egypt, Greece, and Brazil. On his return to France, in 1556, he quitted the Cordelier's habit, took that of an ecclesiastic, and was appointed almoner to queen Catherine de Medicis. He had the titles of historiographer of France and cosmographer to the king, and received the profits of these offices. He died Nov. 23, 1590, leaving Cosmographie du Levant (Lyons, 1554, 4to). —A History of Illustrious Men (1671,8 vols. 12mo; or 1684, 2 vols. fol.): —Singularites de la France Antarctique (Paris, 1558, 4to); and other works.