LANJUINAIS, Jean Denis, comte de. Rennes 12.3.1753 — Paris 13.1.1827. French Politician, Lawyer, Journalist, and Pioneer of Indology. Son of the lawyer Joseph-Anne-Michel L. and Hélène Marguerite de Capdeville, of ancient Brittonic family. Studies of law at Rennes. Dr. of Laws and barrister 1771 (sic!), from 1775 Professor of Canonic Law at Rennes. As Representative of the Third Estate in 1789 he joined the liberals, then Girondists. Having opposed the sentence of Louis XVI and Jacobine politics he was arrested in 1793, but succeeded escaping to Rennes. In 1795 he joined the Convent again. He opposed to Napoleon’s monarchy, but was made count by him in 1808 and a Pair by Louis XVIII. During the Bourbon regime he criticized conservative politics. Member of A.I.B.L. 1808. Married 1787 Julie-Pauline Sainte des Champs de La Porte (1769–1841), of children two sons and one daughter survived.
Publications: Œuvres de J. D. Lanjuinais. Vol. 4. Recherches sur les langues, la littérature, la religion et la philosophie des Indiens. P. 1832, containing:
– “Mémoire sur la langue sanscrite”, Œuvres 4. P. 1832, 5-92.
– “Le Bhagavad-Gita ou le chant divin, dialogue de Crichna et d’Arjouna sur la religion; épidose du grand poème épique des Indous, intitulé Mahabharata. Traduction nouvelle”, Œuvres 4, P. 1832, 135-245 (unfinished, extends to ch. 9).
– “La religion des Indous delon les Vedas ou analyse de l’Oupnek’hat”, JA 2, 1823, 213-236, 265-282, 344-365 & 3, 1823, 15-34, 71-91, republ. in Œuvres 4, P. 1832, 246-358; “Observations sur quelques ouvrages de Rammohun Roy”, JA 3, 1823, 243-2??.
– Juridical and political writings.
Sources: *Dacier, MAIBL 9, 1831, 159-192; Wikipedia, more in French version, with several portraits.
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