About
Jacques-Henri Bernardin de Saint-Pierre (1737-1814) was a French writer and botanist. After a stay in Île de France (now Mauritius) as a military engineer, he published Voyage à l'Île de France (1773). A disciple of Jean-Jacques Rousseau, he developed a philosophy of divine providence in Études de la nature (1784). His pastoral novel Paul et Virginie (1788) was immensely successful. He is also known for La Chaumière indienne (1790). He served as intendant of the Jardin des Plantes, professor at the École normale, and member of the Institut and the Académie française.
* 1737-01-19 — † 1814-01-21
Major works
- Voyage à l'Île de France (1773)travelogue
- Études de la nature (1784)philosophical essay
- Paul et Virginie (1788)novel
- La Chaumière indienne (1790)tale
Key milestones
- 1768Stayed in Île de France as a military engineer.
- 1792Appointed intendant of the Jardin des Plantes by Louis XVI.
- 1803Elected to the Académie française (seat 27).
Themes
naturedivine providencesentimentprimitivismvegetarianism
Sources: britannica.com · oxfordreference.com · thebritishacademy.ac.uk