DACIER, ANDREW, born at Castres in Upper
Languedoc, 1651, had a great genius and inclination for learning, and studied at Saumur under Tannegui le Fevre, then engaged in the instruction of his daughter, who proved afterwards an honour to her sex. This gave rise to that mutual tenderness which a marriage of 40 years could never weaken in them. The duke of Montausier hearing of his merit, put him in the list of commentators for the use of the Dauphin, and engaged him in an edition of Pompeius Fetus, which he published in 1681. His edition of Horace, printed at Paris in ten vols 12mo, and his other works, raised him a great reputation. He was made a member of the academy of inscriptions in 1695. When the history of Louis XIV. by medals was finished, he was chosen to present it to his majesty; who being informed of the pains which he had taken in it, settled upon him a pension of 2000 livres, and appointed him keeper of the books of the king's closet in the Louvre. When that post was united to that of library-keeper to the king, he was not only continued in the privilege of his place during life, but the survivance was granted to his wife; a favour of which there had been no instance before. But the death of Madame Dacier in 1720, rendered this grant, which was so honourable to her, ineffectual. He died September 18. 1722, of an ulcer in the throat. In his manners, sentiments, and the whole of his conduct, he was a complete model of that ancient philosophy of which he was so great an admirer, and which he improved by the rules and principles of Christianity.