(Clement), the best French poet of his time, was born at Cahors in 1495; and was the son of John Marot, valet de chambre to Francis I. and poet to queen Anne of Brittany. He enjoyed his father's place of valet de chambre to Francis I. and was page to Margaret of France wife to the duke of Alençon. In 1521 he followed that prince into Italy, and was wounded and taken prisoner at the battle of Pavia; but at his return to Paris was accused of heresy, and thrown into prison, from whence he was delivered by the protection of king Francis I. He at length retired to the queen of Navarre, then to the duchess of Ferrara, and in 1536 returned to Paris: but declaring openly for the Calvinists, he was obliged to fly to Geneva; which he at length left, and retiring to Piedmont, died at Turin in 1544, aged 50. His verses are agreeably filled with natural beauties. La Fontaine acknowledged himself his disciple, and contributed greatly to restore to vogue the works of this ancient poet. Marot, besides his other works, has translated part of the Psalms into verse, which was continued by Beza, and are still sung in the Protestant churches abroad.—Michael Marot, his son, was also the author of some verses; but they are not comparable to those of John, and much less to those of Clement Marot.—The works of the three Marots were collected and printed together at the Hague in 1731, in 3 vols 4to, and in 6 vols 12mo.