Martin (Bon Louis Henri), French historian, b. St. Quentin, 20 Feb. 1810. He was sent to Paris to study law, but abandoned it for history. His History of France, in nineteen vols. (1838–53), is a monumental work of erudition. A confirmed Republican, he warmly opposed the Second Empire and after its fall became member of the National Assembly, ’71, and senator, ’76. He was elected member of the Academy, ’78. In addition to his historical works he contributed to le Siecle, la Liberté de penser, and l’Encyclopédie Nouvelle, etc. Died 14 Dec. 1883.
Martin (Louis), author of Les Evangiles Sans Dieu (called by Victor Hugo cette noble page), Paris, 1887, describes himself as an Atheist Socialist.
Martin (Louis Auguste). French writer, b. Paris, 25 April, 1811, editor of the Morale Independante and member of the Institute of Geneva. For his True and False Catholics (’58), he was fined three thousand francs and imprisoned for six months. He published the Annuaire Philosophique. Several of his works are placed on the Roman Index. Died Paris, 6 April, 1875.
Martinaud (M.), an ex-abbé who refused ordination, and wrote Letters of a young priest, who is an Atheist and Materialist, to his bishop, Paris, 1868, in which he says, “Religion is the infancy of peoples, Atheism their maturity.”
Martineau (Harriet), b. Norwich 12 June, 1803, descended from a Huguenot family. Brought up as a Unitarian, she began writing Devotional Exercises for Young Persons, and, taking to literature as a means of living, distinguished herself by popularisations of political economy. The Letters on the Laws of Man’s Nature and Development, which passed between her and H. G. Atkinson, appeared in ’51, and disclosed her advance to the Positivist school of Thought. In ’53 she issued a condensed account of Comte’s philosophy. She wrote a History of England during the Thirty Years’ Peace, and numerous other works. Died at Ambleside 27 June, 1876. Her Autobiography, published after her death, shows the full extent of her unbelief.
Masquerier (Lewis), American land reformer of Huguenot descent, b. 1 March, 1802. Wrote The Sataniad, established Greenpoint Gazette, and contributed to the Boston Investigator. Died 7 Jan. 1888.
Massenet (Jules Emile Fréderic), French musical composer, b. Montard, 12 May, 1842. Has written a daring and popular oratorio on Marie Magdeleine, and an opera, Herodiade.
Massey (Gerald), poet and archæologist, b. of poor parents at Tring, in Herts, 29 May, 1828. At eight years of age he was sent to a factory to earn a miserable pittance. At the age of fifteen he came to London as an errand boy, read all that came in his way, and became a Freethinker and political reformer. Inspired by the men of ’48, he started The Spirit of Freedom, ’49. It cost him five situations in eleven months. In ’53 his Ballad of Babe Christabel, with other Lyrical Poems at once gave him position as a poet of fine taste and sensibility. Mr. Massey devoted himself to the study of Egyptology, the result of which is seen in his Book of Beginnings and Natural Genesis, ’81–83, in which he shows the mythical nature of Christianity. Mr. Massey has also lectured widely on such subjects as Why Don’t God Kill the Devil? The Historical Jesus and the Mythical Christ, The Devil of Darkness in the Light of Evolution, The Coming Religion, etc. His poems are being re-published under the title My Lyrical Life.
Massey (James). See [Tyssot. (S.)]
Massol (Marie Alexandre), French writer, b. Beziers, 18 March, 1805. He studied under Raspail, went to Paris in ’30 and became a Saint Simonian. In ’48 he wrote on Lamennais’ La Réforme, and on the Voix du Peuple with his friend Proudhon, to whom he became executor. In ’65 he established La Morale Independante with the object of showing morality had nothing to do with theology. Died at Paris 20 April, 1875.