ELIE DE BEAUMONT, ale de bo-mon, Jean Baptiste Armand Louis Leonce, French geologist: b. Canon, France, 25 Sept. 1798; d.. there, 22 Sept. 1874. He was educated in the Polytechnic School; became professor at the School of Mines (1829); professor of geology in the College of France (1833) ; chief engineer of mines (1833) ; member of the In stitute (1835) and perpetual secretary of the Academy of Sciences (1853). He published 'Carte geologique de France' (1843) ; 'No tices sur les systemes de montagnes) (1852); and with Dufrenoy, 'Voyage metallurgique en Angleterre' (1827), the record of a scientific journey he had made in England and Scotland in 1823. His principal services to science were in the establishing of the geological survey of France and the stimulating of interest in mountain geology.
ELIGIUS, 6-11j'iis, or ELOI, 1-lwa, Saint, bishop of Noyon: b. Cadillac, near Limoges, 588; d. Noyon, 1 Dec. about 660. Having in boyhood shown a decided aptitude for fine art he was placed by his parents under the direction of the master of the mint at Limoges and there acquired skill in the goldsmith's craft. Ap pointed coiner to the Frankish king, Clotaire, and to his son and successor, Dagotiert, he exe cuted at their order the bas-reliefs on the tomb of Saint Germanus, bishop of Paris, and other works in the precious metals which were re garded as the masterpieces of decorative art in that time. He was a favorite at court, which he
was obliged to frequent because of his con nection with the king; but he took more pleas ure in relieving the needy than in the society of the worldly. He daily fed a large number of poor people, he buried the bodies of male factors, and he ransomed captives, especially the Saxon slaves who were often sold in the markets. Both Clotaire and his son Dagobert bestowed costly presents upon Eligius, but they could not make him rich, he gave so much to the poor and to the founding of charitable in stitutions. At about the age of 50 he decided to abandon the world entirely and devote him self to the conversion of the pagans. Two years later he was ordained priest and in 546 was made bishop of Noyon. As bishop he gave special attention to the conversion of the Flemings and Frisians, and the greater part of Flanders was converted dirough his efforts. Consult Lebeuf, (Histoire du diocese de Paris' ; Fleury, 'Vita S. Eligius.'