BLONDÉL, David, a Protestant minister, distinguished by his skill in ecclesiastical and civil history, was born at Chalons-sur-Marne, and was admitted to the ministry at a synod of the Isle of France in 1614. He soon made himself known by certain learned works, and in 1650 he succeeded G. J. Vossius in the professorship of history at Amsterdam. Bayle says he had a very singular way of studying. He lay on the ground, and had around him the books which he wanted for the work he was composing. He died in 1655.