TURRETIN (Francis), minister and professor of divinity at Geneva, his native place, was born in 1623. Having studied at Geneva, Leyden, Saumur, Montauban, and Nîmes, with great success, he was admitted into the ministry in 1648, and served at the same time the French and Italian churches at Geneva. Two years after, he was offered the professorship of philosophy, which he refused; but accepted the invitation of the church of Lyons. He was recalled to Geneva at a year's expiration, because he was wanted to give lectures of divinity; and began them in 1653. He was sent to Holland in 1661, to desire the assistance of money which the city of Geneva had occasion for. He had in that journey all the success he could promise himself; and gained such a character there, that he was strongly importuned by the Walloon churches at the Hague and at Leyden to enter into their service. On his return he resumed the functions of his place, and continued there till his death with remarkable application. He died in 1687, with the character of a man of great merit; eloquent, judicious, laborious, learned, and zealous for orthodoxy. His works were published by his son John Alphonseus, in 3 and in 4 vols 4to, and are much esteemed.