Dulaurens (Henri Joseph). French satirist, b. Douay, 27 March, 1719. He was brought up in a convent, and made a priest 12 Nov. 1727. Published a satire against the Jesuits, 1761, he was compelled to fly to Holland, where he lived in poverty. He edited L’Evangile de la Raison, a collection of anti-Christian tracts by Voltaire and others, and wrote L’Antipapisme révelé in 1767. He was in that year condemned to perpetual imprisonment for heresy, and shut in the convent of Mariabaum, where he died 1797. Dulaurens was caustic, cynical and vivacious. He is also credited with the Portfolios of a Philosopher, mostly taken from the Analysis of Bayle, Cologne, 1770.
Dulk (Albert Friedrich Benno), German poet and writer, b. Konigsberg, 17 June, 1819; he became a physician, but was expelled for aiding in the Revolution of ’48. He travelled in Italy and Egypt. In ’65 he published Jesus der Christ, embodying rationalism in prose and verse. He has also written Stimme der Menschheit, 2 vols., ’76, ’80, and Der Irrgang des Lebens Jesu, ’84, besides numerous plays and pamphlets. Died 29 Oct. 1884.
Dumont (Léon), French writer, b. Valenciennes, 1837. Studied for the bar, but took to philosophy and literature. He early embraced Darwinism, and wrote on Hæckel and the Theory of Evolution, ’73. He wrote in La Revue Philosophique, and other journals. Died Valenciennes, 17 Jan. 1877.
Dumarsais (César Chesneau), French grammarian and philosopher, b. Marseilles, 17 July, 1676. When young he entered the congregation of the oratory. This society he soon quitted, and went to Paris, where he married. A friend of Boindin and Alembert, he wrote against the pretensions of Rome and contributed to the Encyclopédie. He is credited with An Analysis of the Christian Religion and with the celebrated Essai sur les Préjugés, par Mr. D. M., but the latter was probably written by Holbach, with notes by Naigeon. Le Philosophe, published in L’Evangile de la Raison by Dulaurens, was written by Voltaire. Died 11 June, 1756. Dumarsais was very simple in character, and was styled by D’Alembert the La Fontaine of philosophers.
Dumont (Pierre Etienne Louis), Swiss writer, b. Geneva, 18 July, 1759. Was brought up as a minister, but went to France and became secretary to Mirabeau. After the Revolution he came to England, where he became acquainted with Bentham, whose works he translated. Died Milan, 29 Sept. 1829.
Duncker (Maximilian Wolfgang), German historian, b. Berlin, 15 Oct. 1811. His chief work, the History of Antiquity, 1852–57, thoroughly abolishes the old distinction of sacred and profane history, and freely criticises the Jewish records. A translation in six volumes has been made by E. Abbot. Duncker took an active part in the events of ’48 and ’50, and was appointed Director-General of the State Archives. Died 24 July, 1886.
Dupont (Jacob Louis), a French mathematician and member of the National Convention, known as the Abbé Dupont, who, 14 Dec. 1792, declared himself an Atheist from the tribune of the Convention. Died at Paris in 1813.
Dupont de Nemours (Pierre Samuel), French economist, b. Paris, 14 Dec. 1739. He became President of the Constituent Assembly, and was a Theophilantrophist. Died Delaware, U.S.A., 6 Aug. 1817.
Dupuis (Charles François), French astronomer and philosopher, b. Trie-le-Chateau, 16 Oct. 1742. He was educated for the Church, which he left, and married in 1775. He studied under Lalande, and wrote on the origin of the constellations, 1781. In 1788 he became a member of the Academy of Inscriptions. At the Revolution he was chosen a member of the Convention. During the Reign of Terror he saved many lives at his own risk. He was afterwards one of the Council of Five Hundred, and president of the legislative body. His chief work is on the Origin of Religions, 7 vols., 1795, in which he traces solar worship in various faiths, including Christianity. This has been described as “a monument of the erudition of unbelief.” Dupuis died near Dijon, 29 Sept. 1809.
Dutrieux (Pierre Joseph), Belgian physician, b. Tournai, 19 July, 1848. Went to Cairo and became a Bey. Died 1 Jan. 1889.