Philippe Macquer


Philippe Macquer was a French historian and lawyer. His brother was the chemist Pierre Joseph Macquer.

Life

He came from a family of Scottish origins. His health did not allow him to devoted himself to being a lawyer to the Parlement of Paris and so he dedicated himself to literature. He is notable for his summaries of history, known for their clarity and precision in a similar vein to président Hénault. He contributed to the Dictionnaire portatif des arts et métiers. This work was strongly critiqued by Melchior Grimm, spokesman for the Encyclopédistes - he accused Macquer of plagiarism. The controversy is analysed by Jacques Proust.

Works