De Greef (Guillaume Joseph), advocate at Brussels Court of Appeal, b. at Brussels, 9 Oct. 1842. Author of an important Introduction to Sociology, 1886. Wrote in La Liberté, 1867–73, and now writes in La Societé Nouvelle.
De Gubernatis (Angelo), Italian Orientalist and writer, b. Turin, 7 April, 1840; studied at Turin University and became doctor of philosophy. He studied Sanskrit under Bopp and Weber at Berlin. Sig. de Gubernatis has adorned Italian literature with many important works, of which we mention his volumes on Zoological Mythology, which has been translated into English, ’72: and on the Mythology of Plants. He has compiled and in large part written a Universal History of Literature, 18 vols. ’82–85; edited La Revista Europea and the Revue Internationale, and contributed to many publications. He is a brilliant writer and a versatile scholar.
De Harven (Emile Jean Alexandre), b. Antwerp, 23 Sept. 1837, the anonymous author of a work on The Soul: its Origin and Destiny (Antwerp, 1879).
Dekker (Eduard Douwes), the greatest Dutch writer and Freethinker of this century, b. Amsterdam, 2 March, 1820. In ’39 he accompanied his father, a ship’s captain, to the Malayan Archipelago. He became officer under the Dutch government in Sumatra, Amboina, and Assistant-Resident at Lebac, Java. He desired to free the Javanese from the oppression of their princes, but the government would not help him and he resigned and returned to Holland, ’56. The next four years he spent, in poverty, vainly seeking justice for the Javanese. In ’60 he published under the pen name of “Multatuli” Max Havelaar, a masterly indictment of the Dutch rule in India, which has been translated into German, French and English. Then follow his choice Minnebrieven (Love Letters), ’61; Vorstenschool (A School for Princes), and Millioenen Studiën (Studies on Millions). His Ideën, 7 vols. ’62–79, are full of the boldest heresy. In most of his works religion is attacked, but in the Ideas faith is criticised with much more pungency and satire. He wrote “Faith is the voluntary prison-cell of reason.” He was an honorary member of the Freethought Society, De Dageraad, and contributed to its organ. During the latter years of his life he lived at Wiesbaden, where he died 19 Feb. 1887. His corpse was burned in the crematory at Gotha.
De Lalande (see [Lalande]).
Delambre (Jean Baptiste Joseph), French astronomer, b. Amiens, 19 Sept. 1749, studied under Lalande and became, like his master, an Atheist. His Tables of the Orbit of Uranus were crowned by the Academy, 1790. In 1807 he succeeded Lalande as Professor of Astronomy at the Collége de France. He is the author of a History of Astronomy in five volumes, and of a number of astronomical tables and other scientific works He was appointed perpetual secretary of the Academy of Sciences. Died 19 Aug. 1822, and was buried at Père la Chaise. Cuvier pronouncing a discourse over his grave.
De la Ramee. See [Ramée].
Delbœuf (Joseph Remi Léopold), Belgian writer, b. Liège, 30 Sept. 1831; is Professor at the University of Liège, and has written Psychology as a Natural Science, its Present and its Future; Application of the Experimental Method to the Phenomena of the Soul, ’73, and other works. In his Philosophical Prolegomena to Geometry he suggests that even mathematical axioms may have an empirical origin.
Delbos (Léon), linguist, b. 20 Sept. 1849 of Spanish father and Scotch mother. Educated in Paris, Lycée Charlemagne. Is an M.A. of Paris and officier d’Académie. Speaks many languages, and is a good Arabic and Sanskrit scholar. Has travelled widely and served in the Franco-German War. Besides many educational works, M. Delbos has written L’Athée, the Atheist, a Freethought romance ’79, and in English The Faith in Jesus not a New Faith, ’85. He has contributed to the Agnostic Annual, and is a decided Agnostic.
Delepierre (Joseph Octave), Belgian bibliophile, b. Bruges, 12 March, 1802. Was for thirty-five years secretary of Legation to England. His daughter married N. Truebner, who published his work L’Enfer, 1876, and many other bibliographical studies. Died London, 18 Aug. 1879.