(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 Festus, which he published in 1681. His edition of Horace printed at Paris in 10 vols in 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 privileges 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 Madam Dacier in 1726, 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.

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 Mr 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 Calais 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 their 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. Madam 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.