DUPUIS, CHARLES-FRANcOIS, was boru of poor parents, at Fry6-Chftteau, between Gisors and Chaumont, on the 26th of October 1742. His early instructions were due to his father, who, though in very humble circumstances, appears to have been a man of some learoiog and considerable intelligence ; and the early turn of mind in young Dupuis was very decidedly to mathematics and astronomy.
It was his good fortune to become known while yet a boy to the Due de Rochefolicault, who procured him an exhibition to the college of Harcourt. His studies here took a new direction, and be made such rapid progress in them as to secure the highest opinion of the professors of the college, and give promise of distinction in future life.
Before the age of twenty-four, he was appointed professor of rheroric in the college of Lisieux; and having sufficient leisure allowed him by his duties, he completed his course of law studies, and in 1770 was admitted an advocate of the parliament Being directed by the rector of his university to pronounce the discourse on the distribu tion of the prizes, this led also to his being nominated to deliver the funeral oration, in the name of the university, on the queen Marie Thdrese. With these his literary reputation commenced, and they are considered good specimens of purity and elegance in Latin composition.
The nature of his literary pursuits again led him into contact with the subjects of his early study ; and profiting by the lessons and the friendship of Lnlande, he entered upon the study of astronomical history with a zeal which never abated to the close of his life. His attention was especially directed in the first place to the probable signification of the astronomical symbols which constituted the signs of the zodiao ; and thence to all the other ancient constellations. His active mind however even in the midst of these deeply interesting speculations, was alive to other objects; and among his amusements was the construction of a telegraph, founded on the suggestions of Amontons, by means of which, from 1778 to the commencement of the Revolution, he carried ou a correspondence with his friend 31. Fortin, who was resident at Bagneux, he himself being located at Belleville. This mode of correspondence he however very prudently laid aside, lest itshould lay him open to suspicion from the factions that then governed France.
In 1777 1778 he published in the 'Journal des Swans the first sketches of the theory at which he had arrived ; and shortly after, both in the astronomy of his friend Lalande, and in a separate 4to volume under the title of Ildmoire sur l'Origine des Coustella tious et cur l'explication do la Fable par l'Astronomie,' 1781. The sceptical tendency of the views entertained by Dupuis led Condoreet to recommend him to Frederick the Great, as professor of literaturo in the College of Berlin, and successor to Thidbault; aud the offer was accepted by Dupuis. The death of Frederick however prevented the arrangement from being carried into effect ; hilt the chair of Latin eloquence in the College of France becoming then vacant by the death of Bejot, he was appointed to fill it. In the same year (1778) be was named a member of the Academy of Inscriptions, and was appointed one of the four commissioners of public instruction for the department of Paris. The danger of hie residence in the capital now induced him to seek a retreat at Evreux. He was, notwithstanding his retirement, named member of the Convention for the department of Seine-et-Oise; and was remarkable for the moderation of his views. Caution was the characteristic of his political career. In the year II. he was elected secretary of the Assembly; and in the following year a member of the Council of Five Hundred. Ile was elected one of the forty-elght members of the French Institute, though after much determined and discreditable opposition from the ultra-revolution party. On the 18th Brumaire, year IV., he was elected by the depart ment of Seine-et-Oise their member of the legislative body, and soon after president of that assembly, and ultimately was nominated a candidate for the senate. Hopeless of the regeneration of France, he retired at once from publics life, and devoted the remainder of his days to the investigations of the questions which arose out of his early speculations. We have hence to trace his progress only as a man of letters and a men of acience, and to give soma general idea of the views which are contained in hie several works.