SPON (James), was the son of Charles Spon, an eminent French physician, and born at Lyons in 1647. After an education of great care, he was admitted a doctor of physic at Montpellier in 1667, and a member of the college of physicians at Lyons in 1669. Mr Vailant, the king's antiquary, passing through Lyons to Italy in quest of medals and other antiquities, Mr Spon accompanied him. He afterward, in the years 1675 and 1676, made a voyage to Dalmatia, Greece, and the Levant, in company with Sir George Wheeler an English gentleman: but whether his constitution was naturally weak, or he had hurt himself in this tour, does not appear, but he never after enjoyed his health. Being of the reformed religion, he was forced to leave France on the revocation of the edict of Nantz; and died at Vevay, a town on the lake Leman, in 1686. He was the author of many valuable works which
Spondanus were printed at Lyons; the principal of which are,
1. His travels into Italy, Dalmatia, Greece, and the Levant. 2. An answer to M. Guillet's Criticisms on his Travels. 3. Curious antiquities, in quarto. 4. A history of Geneva; all the above are in French. 5. Miscellanea erudita antiquatissima, folio, &c.