DACIER, Anne, daughter of Tannegui le Fevre, professor of Greek at Saumur in France. She early showed a fine genius, which her father cultivated with great care and satisfaction. After her father's death she went to Paris, whither her fame had already reached; she was then preparing an edition of Callimachus, which she published in 1674. Having shown some sheets of it to M. Huet, preceptor to the dauphin, and to several other men of learning at the court, the work was so highly admired, that the duke of Montausier made a proposal to her of publishing several Latin authors for the use of the dauphin. She rejected this proposal at first, as a task to which she was not equal. But the duke insisted upon it; so that at last he gained her consent; upon which she undertook an edition of Florus, published in 1674. Her reputation being now spread over all Europe, Christina, queen of Sweden, ordered Count Konigsmark to make her a compliment in her name: upon which Mademoiselle le Fevre sent the queen a Latin letter with her edition of Florus; to which her majesty wrote an obliging answer, and not long after sent her another letter, to persuade her to abandon the Protestant religion, and make her considerable offers to settle at her court. In 1683 she married Mr Dacier; and soon after declared her design to the duke of Montausier and the bishop of Meaux of reconciling herself to the church of Rome, which she had entertained for some time: but as Mr Dacier was not yet convinced of the reasonableness of such a change, they retired to Castres in 1684, where they had a small estate, in order to examine the points of controversy between the Protestants and the Roman Catholics. They at last determined in favour of the latter, and made the public abjuration in 1685. After this, the king gave both husband and wife marks
of his favour. In 1693, she applied herself to the education of her son and daughter, who made a prodigious progress: the son died in 1694, and the daughter became a nun in the abbey of Longchamp. She had another daughter, who had united in her all the virtues and accomplishments that could adorn the sex; but she died at 18. Her mother has immortalized her memory in the preface to her translation of the Iliad. Madame Dacier was in a very infirm state of health the two last years of her life; and died, after a very painful sickness, August 17. 1720, aged 69. She was remarkable for her firmness, generosity, equality of temper, and piety.