Jérôme Bignon

Jérôme Bignon (1589 - 1656) was a French lawyer born in Paris.His family was originating from the western part of France and came to Paris at the beginning of the sixteen century.He was uncommonly precocious, and under his father's tuition had acquired an immense mass of knowledge before he was ten years of age. In 1600 was published a work by him entitled "Choréographie, ou description de la Terre Sainte". The great reputation gained by this book introduced the author to Henry IV, who placed him for some time as a companion to the duc de Vendôme, and made him tutor to the dauphin, afterwards Louis XIII.

In 1604 he wrote his "Discours de la ville de Rome", and in the following year his "Traité sommaire de l'élection du pape". He then devoted himself to the study of law, wrote in 1610 a treatise on the precedency of the kings of France, which gave great satisfaction to Henry IV, and in 1613 edited, with learned notes, the "Formulae" of the jurist Marculf.

In 1620 he was made advocate-general to the grand council, and shortly afterwards a councillor of state, and in 1626 he became advocate-general to the "parlement" of Paris. In 1641 he resigned his official dignity, and in 1642 was appointed by Richelieu to the charge of the royal library.

His grandson was intendant of the King (governor) in northern France at the end of the seventeenth century and his late descendant, also called Jérôme Bignon, sollicitor, is M.P., elected in the same departement of Somme (2007).

References

*1911