Jean Astruc

Astruc, JEAN, b. at Sauves, March 19, 1684; d. at Paris, May 5, 1766. He was the son of a converted Protestant minister. After he had taught medicine at Montpellier, he became a member of the Medical Faculty at Paris. His medical writings, however numerous, are now forgotten, but a work published by him anonymously has secured for him a permanent reputation. This book was entitled: “Conjectures sur les memoires originaux dont it paroit que Moyse s’est servi pour composer le livre de la Genese. Avec des remarques qui appuient ou qui eclaircissen.t ses conjectures” (Brussels). Astruc himself did not intend to deny the Mosaic authorship of Genesis; but his work created an era in Biblical inquiry, occasioning the modem critical theories.