SAINT-MARTIN, LOUIS CLAUDE DE French philosopher, known as "le philosophe inconnu," the name under which his works were published, was born at Amboise on Jan. 18, 1743. While in garrison at Bordeaux he came under the influence of Martinez de Pasquales, who taught a species of mys ticism drawn from cabbalistic sources, and endeavoured to found a secret cult with magical or theurgical rites. In 1771 Saint-Martin left the army to become a preacher of mysticism, first in Paris, and then in England, Italy, Switzerland and the French provinces. At Strasbourg in 1788 he met Charlotte de Boecklin, who intro duced him to the writings of Jacob Boehme, and inspired in him a semi-romantic attachment. He was brought up a strict Catholic, and always remained attached to the church, although his first work, Of Errors and Truth, was placed upon the Index. He died
at Aunay, near Paris, on Oct. 23, 1803.
His chief works are a translation of the works of Boehme; Lettre a un ami sur la Revolution Francaise; Eclair sur l'associa tion humaine; De Pesprit des choses ; Ministere de Phomme-esprit. Other treatises appeared in his Oeuvres posthumes (1807). Saint Martin's ideal society was "a natural and spiritual theocracy," in which God would raise up men of mark, who would regard themselves strictly as "divine commissioners" to guide the people.