CASAUBON, Isaac

(1559-1614)

A leading scholar and teacher, the French classicist and Protestant theologian Isaac Casaubon epitomizes the spirit of Renaissance humanism and the Refor­mation. Born to French Huguenot refugees in Geneva, Casaubon was educated, until age eighteen, by his father. Then he attended the Academy of Geneva, where his work as a classical scholar earned him an appointment to teach Greek. He remained in Geneva until 1596, becoming acquainted with many who visited this Swiss Calvinist center. In 1596, after the Edict of Nantes granted civil rights and limited freedom of worship to French Protestants, Casaubon taught at the University of Montpellier. At this time Casaubon produced his editions of and commentaries on the classical authors Diogenes Laertius, Athenaeus, Theophras-tus, and Aristotle.

In 1600 Casaubon, called to the court of France, was named one of the Prot­estant commissioners to judge the accuracy of the patristic quotations in a trea­tise against the Mass. Protestant scholars blamed Casaubon for siding with Catholic commissioners in this controversy, a decision that plagued Casaubon for much of his life. When he was presented to Henri IV by Catholics eager for Casaubon's conversion, he was denied a professorship at the Royal College because he refused to convert, but was granted a post at the Royal Library. Within a few years, throughout northern Europe, Casaubon's reputation as a scholar spread.

Because of his study of early Christian theology and Catholic pressure on him to convert, Casaubon became disillusioned with Calvinist doctrine and at­tracted to the Church of England. When Henri IV's assassination in 1610 height­ened religious unrest, Casaubon accepted the invitation of Richard Bancroft, archbishop of Canterbury, to come to England. Warmly received by James I,* Lancelot Andrewes* (bishop of Ely), and others, Casaubon was converted to the Church of England and was given a living at Canterbury Cathedral. Although he kept his appointment in France, he took English citizenship in 1611 and never returned to France. He spent his last years writing to defend the English church against Catholicism and refuting the massive anti-Protestant history of Christianity, Annales ecclesiastici (Annals of the Church) by Cesare Baronio. He died in London and was buried in Westminster Abbey. Casaubon's involve­ment in religious controversy as he was torn between continental Calvinists and Catholics and his excellence in the activities Renaissance humanists promoted - the edition of and commentary on classical texts—both testify to his stature as a noteworthy figure.

Bibliography

M. Pattison, Isaac Casaubon, 1559-1614, 2nd ed., 1892.

Al Geritz