COURAYER, PIERRE FRANCOIS LE 7 76), French Roman Catholic theologian, was born in Rouen on Nov. 17, 1681. While canon regular and librarian of the abbey of St. Genevieve at Paris he corresponded with Archbishop Wake on the subject of episcopal succession in England and so gained material for his Dissertation sur la validite des ordinations des Anglais . . . (Brussels, 17 23 ; Eng. trans. by D. Williams, London, 17 25 ; reprinted Oxford, 1844, with memoir of the author), which tried to prove the apostolic succession of the English clergy. Being persecuted he fled to England, where the doctorate was conferred on him at Oxford. In 1736 he published a French translation of Paolo Sarpi's History of the Council of Trent, and later, one of Sleidan's History of the Reformation. He died in London on Oct. 17, 1776. In his will of 1774 he declared him self still a Roman Catholic.