GERSON, zhitestsre, JEAN CHARLIER DE ( 1363 1429). An eminent French scholar and divine of the closing period of the Middle Ages. He was born at Gerson, in the Diocese of Rheims, December 14, 1363. He entered the University of Paris, and studied theology under the cele brated Pierre d'Ailly. Here he rose to the high est honors of the university, and ultimately to its chancellorship (1392), having acquired by his extraordinary learning the title of 'the Most Christian Doctor.' During the contests which arose out of the rival claims of the two lines of pontiffs in the time of the Western Schism (q.v.) the University of Paris took a leading part in the negotiations for union, and Gerson was one of the most active supporters of the proposal of the university for putting an end to the schism by the resignation of both the contending parties. He visited the other universities, in order to obtain their assent to the plan proposed by that of Paris. But although he had the satisfaction to see this plan carried out in the Council of Pisa (1409), it failed to secure the desired union. In a treatise inscribed to his friend Pierre d'Ailly, he renewed the proposal that the rival pontiffs (now not two, but three. since the election of John XXIII., at Pisa) should he required to resign; and in the new council which met at Constance in 1414, he was again the most zealous advocate of the same expedient of resignation. It is to him also that the great outlines of the plan of Church reformation, then and afterwards pro posed, are due. (See CONSTANCE, COUNCIL OF.)
But his own personal fortunes were marred by the animosity of the Duke of Burgundy and his adherents, to whoni Gerson had become obnox ious, and from whom he had already suffered much persecution, on account of the boldness with which he had denounced the murder of the Duke of Orleans. To escape their vengeance, he was forced to remain in exile; and he retired from Constance (1418) in the disguise of a pilgrim, to Rattenberg, in Bavaria, where he composed his celebrated work, De Consolatione Theologic; In imitation of that of Boethius, De Consoiatione Philosophic;; later he went to Neu burg. It was only after the lapse of two years that he was enabled to return to France and take up his residence in a monastery at Lyons, of which his brother was superior. He devoted himself in this retirement to works of piety, to study, and to the education of youth. He died in Lyons July 12, 1429. His works fill five volumes in folio. Among the books formerly ascribed to him was the celebrated treatise De Imitatione Christi; but it is no longer doubt ful that the true author is Thomas it Kempis (q.v.). The best and most complete edition of his works is by Dupin (Antwerp, 1706). Con sult: his life by Schwab (Wfirzburg, 1858) ; Bess, Zur Geschichte des konstanzer Konzils (Marburg, 1891) ; Creighton, History of the Papacy, vols. i. and ii. (London, 1882).