ANQUETIL, LOUIS PIERRE, a French historian, was born at Paris on the 21st of January 1723. At the age of 17 he entered the congregation of St. Genevieve, where he taught theology and literature with ability and success. He afterwards became director of the academy at Rheims; and in 1759 he was appointed prior of the abbey de la Roe, in Anjou. Soon after this he was sent, in the capacity of director, to the college of Senlis. In 1766 he obtained the curacy or priory of Château-Renard, near Montargis, which he exchanged, at the commencement of the Revolution, for the curacy of La Villette, in the neighbourhood of Paris. During the reign of terror he was imprisoned at St. Lazare. On the establishment of the National Institute, he was elected a member of the second class, and was soon afterwards employed in the office of the minister for foreign affairs. He died on the 6th of September 1808, in the 86th year of his age. On the evening previous to this event, he is reported to have said to one of his friends, "Come and see a man who is dying full of life."
As an author, M. Anquetil does not stand very high in the ranks of literature. He possessed more industry in research than ability or judgment in execution. His style is censurable in many respects, and he appears to have been almost entirely destitute of the critical discernment and philosophical sagacity which are requisite to form the character of a good historian. The following is a list of his principal works:—
XVI. 1798, 8vo. 9. Histoire de France depuis les Gaules jusqu'à la fin de la Monarchie. 1805 et seqq. 14 vols. 12mo. This work was composed in haste, and is of no great value. 10. Notice sur la Vie de M. Anquetil du Perron. M. Anquetil likewise wrote several papers in the Memoirs of the Institute. (See Biographie Universelle.) (J.C.)