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Martinet, Louis-Franois

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a Roman Catholic divine, was born at Epernay, diocese of Rheims, April 19, 1753. At the age of sixteen he entered the regular canons of the Congregation of France, and during his course of studies at the abbey of St. Genevieve, of Paris, he was particularly favored by his superiors, who early made him teacher of philosophy and theology. Ordained priest at the age of twenty-five, he was made prior of Daon, in the diocese of Angers. It was in this capacity that he was elected delegate to the provincial assembly of the clergy of Anjou, and later to the states-general of 1789. Faithful to the principles of the minority of the Constituent Assembly, he was constantly opposed to the legislative measures which, under the semblance of a useful reform, had a destructive and ruinous object. He succeeded in escaping persecution, and emigrated to England. There he did not share in the illusions of his companions in exile of a speedy return to France; and, with a view to exercising his ministry usefully, he applied himself to the study of English. Gifted with indefatigable industry, and severely ascetic in his habits, he was enabled to regulate his time judiciously, and thus attain great success. In 1804 he returned to France, and at the period of the concordat was elected priest of Courbevoie. He passed from there to the parish of Saint-Leu-Saint-Giles, at Paris. It is to Martinet that we owe the preservation of the church of Saint-Leu; and, notwithstanding the opposition of M. Frochot, the prefect of the Seine, he succeeded in interesting powerful protectors, and the church was not abandoned. They even donated to him considerable funds for the reparation and embellishment of the edifice. In 1820 he was made priest of the parish church of Saint Laurent, and, although advanced in age, his zeal and activity did not diminish in his administration. He died May 30, 1836. Martinet was one of the most worthy priests of the clergy of Paris. A knowledge of a great variety of subjects, an unbiased, clear, and methodical mind, a pleasing and easy elocution, were increased by that urbanity of manner, that delicacy of tact, and that exquisite politeness which he observed in his habitual relations with persons of distinguished rank. — Biographie Universelle, Supplem., vol. 73, s.v.