(Lewis Ellis), a learned doctor of the Sorbonne, and one of the greatest critics of his time, especially in ecclesiastical matters, was born at Paris in 1657. When he published the first volume of his Bibliothèque Universelle des Auteurs Ecclesiastiques, in 1686, the liberty with which he treated some ecclesiastical writers, gave such offence, that M. de Harlay, archbishop of Paris, obliged Dupin to retract many propositions, and suppress the work. He was nevertheless suffered to continue it, by altering the title from Bibliothèque Universelle, to Bibliothèque Nouvelle.

This great undertaking continued in several successive volumes, though sufficient to occupy the life of an ordinary man, did not hinder M. Dupin from obliging the world with several other works. He was a man of prodigious reading; and had an easy happy way of writing, with an uncommon talent at analyzing the works of an author; which makes his Ecclesiastical Bibliothèque so valuable. M. Dupin was professor of philosophy in the royal college; but was banished some time from the chair to Chatellerault, on account of the famous Cas de Conscience; but was restored, and died in 1719.