Gaston Paris

French philologist
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External Websites
Also known as: Bruno-Paulin-Gaston Paris
Quick Facts
In full:
Bruno-Paulin-Gaston Paris
Born:
August 9, 1839, Avenay, France
Died:
March 6, 1903, Cannes (aged 63)
Also Known As:
Bruno-Paulin-Gaston Paris
Subjects Of Study:
Old French language

Gaston Paris (born August 9, 1839, Avenay, France—died March 6, 1903, Cannes) was the greatest French philologist of his age.

After a thorough education in German universities (notably under Friedrich Diez in Bonn) and at the École des Chartes in Paris, he succeeded his father as professor of French medieval literature at the Collège de France. He was one of the founders and directors—with Paul Meyer—of Revue critique and of Romania, the leading journal devoted to French philology.

A scholar of enormous erudition and exemplary thoroughness, Paris is also remarkable for his efforts to present the findings of research in a form suitable for the general reading public. He became a member of the Académie des Inscriptions in 1876 and of the French Academy in 1896.

This article was most recently revised and updated by Encyclopaedia Britannica.