FLEURY, CLAUDE, was born at Paris, Dec. 6, 1640. He was educated in the Jesuit's College at Clermont. His father, who was an advocate, wished him to follow the same profession, but his preference for the clerical vocation was so strong, that after nine years' practice in the law, he took priest's orders. In 1672 he became tutor to the Prince of Conti, who was brought up with the Dau phin, and afterwards to the Count de Vermandois, a natural son of Louis XIV., who died in 1683. In 1689 Fleury was appointed sub-preceptor (with the illustrious FtMelon) to the Princes of Burgundy, Anjou, and Berri', and on the completion of their education, was made Prior of ArgenteuiL Louis XV. chose him for his father confessor on account of his moderation in reference to the Jansenist controversy, and this office he held till his death, July 14, 1723. His works are numerous. The first was his Catrfehisme historique, Paris, 1679 ; translated into Spanish 1707, and into German 17i8. We may also mention his Noeurs der Israelites, Paris, z6St, of which there is an English trrmslation by Dr. Adam Clarke ; IlIoeurs des
Chretiens, Paris, 1662 ; InstPution au droit ecclesi astique, 2 VO1S., Paris, 1687 ; translated into Latin by Gruber 1724-1733. But his great work is his Ilistoire Eccles/as/lyre from the Ascension to A.D. 1414 ; Paris, 1601-172o. A continuation, written with very Inferior ability, by Claude Fabre, a priest of the Oratory, and La Croix, a Carmelite monk, brings the history down to 1778. Fleury's own work is written in a devout and liberal spirit, with a constant protest against the corruptions of the Church, and the union of the secular with the spiritual power. A Latin translation (including the continuation) appeared at Augsburg, 1757-1793, and a German translation at Frankfort-on-Maine, 14 vols. 4to, 1752. The Abref?e' a'e l'histaire ecclesiastique de Fleury,' Bern, i766, is ascribed to Frederic the Great. His 'Dhows sur les //berth de l'eglise Gallicane' was published soon after his death, Paris, 1724.—J. E. R.