Firmin Abauzit

• Name — Firmin Abauzit • Born — 11 November 1679 • Birthplace — Uzès, Languedoc, Kingdom of France • Died — 20 March 1767 • Place of death — Geneva, Republic of Geneva • Citizenship — Republic of Geneva • Field — * Physics • Theology • Philosophy • Known for — Proofreading or correcting the writings of Isaac Newton

Firmin Abauzit was born of Huguenot parents on 11 November 1679 at Uzès, in Languedoc. His paternal family traces its origin to an Arab physician who settled in Toulouse during the 9th century. Accordingly, the name “Abauzit” is liked derived from the Arabic “Abu Zaid” (father of Zaid). His father died when he was only two years of age; and when, on the revocation of the Edict of Nantes in 1685, the authorities took steps to have him educated in the Roman Catholic faith, his mother contrived his escape. For two years his brother and he lived as fugitives in the mountains of the Cévennes, but they at last reached Geneva, where their mother afterwards joined them on escaping from the imprisonment in which she was held from the time of their flight. Abauzit at an early age acquired great proficiency in languages, physics, and theology. In 1698, he traveled to Germany, then to Holland, where he became acquainted with Pierre Bayle, Pierre Jurieu and Jacques Basnage. Proceeding to England, he was introduced to Sir Isaac Newton, who found in him one of the earliest defenders of his discoveries against Castel. Newton corrected in the second edition of his Principia an error pointed out by Abauzit, and, when sending him the Commercium Epistolicum, said, "You are well worthy to judge between Leibnitz and me." The reputation of Abauzit induced William III to request him to settle in England, but he did not accept the king's offer, preferring to return to Geneva. There from 1715 he rendered valuable assistance to a society that had been formed for translating the New Testament into French. He declined the offer of the chair of philosophy at the University of Geneva in 1723. He assisted in the French language New Testament in 1726. In 1727, he was granted citizenship in Geneva, and he accepted the office of honorary librarian to Geneva, the city of his adoption. It was while he was in Geneva in his later years that he authored many of his works. He died in Geneva at the age of 87, on 20 March 1767.

Works of Abauzit • year — Title — Notes • Articles — Multiple articles for Journal helvétique • 1726 — French language New Testament — Collaboration • apocalypse — Article for Denis Diderot's Encyclopédie • 1767 — Articles — Multiple articles for Dictionnaire de musique • Edited and contributions — Histoire de la république de Genève by Jacob Spon • 1770 — Œuvres de feu M. Abauzit — Posthumously published collection • 1773 — Œuvres diverses de M. Abauzit — Posthumously published collection

Firmin Abauzit is recorded as physicist, writer, theologian and philosopher.