BOUGET, Dom John, an ingenious French antiquary, was born at the village of Beaumains near Falaise, in the diocese of Sez, in 1724. He was educated at the grammar-school at Caen, whence he was removed to that university, and pursued his studies with great diligence and success till 1745, when he became a Benedictine monk of the abbey of St Martin de Sez. Some time after this, he was appointed prior claustral of the said abbey, and continued six years in that office, when he was nominated prior of Tiron en Perche: whence being translated to the abbey of St Stephen at Caen, in the capacity of sub prior, he managed the temporalities of that religious house during two years, as he did their spiritualities for one year longer; after which, according to the custom of the house, he resigned his office. His superiors, sensible of his merit and learning, removed him thence to the abbey of Bec, where he resided till 1764. He was elected an honorary member of the Society of Antiquaries of London, Jan. 10. 1765; in which year he returned to the abbey of St Stephen at Caen, where he continued to the time of his death. These honourable offices, to which he was promoted on account of his great abilities, enabled him not only to pursue his favourite study of the history and antiquities of some of the principal Benedictine abbeys in Normandy, but likewise gave him access to all their charters, deeds, register-books, &c., &c. These he examined with great care, and left behind him in MS. large and accurate accounts of the abbeys of St Peter de Jumiges, St Stephen, and the Holy Trinity at Caen (founded by William the Conqueror and his queen Matilda), and a very particular history of the abbey of Bec. These were all written in French. The "History of the Royal Abbey of Bec" (which he presented to Dr Ducarel in 1764) is only an abstract of his larger work. This ancient abbey (which hath produced several archbishops of Canterbury and other illustrious prelates of this kingdom) is frequently mentioned by our old historians. The death of our worthy Benedictine (which happened on new-year's day 1776) was occasioned by his unfortunate neglect of a hurt he got in his leg by falling down two or three steps in going from the hall to the cloister of the abbey of St Stephen at Caen, being deceived by the ambiguous light of a glimmering lamp that was placed in the passage. He lived universally esteemed, and died sincerely regretted by all those who were acquainted with him; and was buried in the church of the said abbey, Jan. 3. 1776.