Claude Charles Fauriel, a French historian and critic, born in St. Etienne, Oct. 21, 1772, died in Paris, July 15, 1844. After receiving a good education he entered the army in 1793, served under La Tour d'Auvergne, and became secretary to Gen. Dugommier; but after a year's service he returned to St. Etienne, where he received a civil appointment. Subsequently he was private secretary to Fouche, minister of police, but resigned in 1802 when he saw Napoleon about to be made consul for life. He had in the mean while contracted literary tastes and friendships. He studied Arabic with De Sacy, and was one of the first Europeans to learn Sanskrit; gathered a multitude of facts as to the less known tongues, as the Basque, Gallic, and Old German; wrote translations from the Danish poet Baggesen, and the Italian poets Manzoni and Berchet; collected materials for a history of stoicism, which he never finished; and translated many Greek songs. From 1824 to 1826 he resided in Italy, studying oriental languages, and soon afterward founded, in connection with other orientalists, the Asiatic society.

In 1830 he was appointed professor of foreign literature in the faculty of letters at Paris. This chair, which was created for him by the duke de Broglie, he filled for nearly 14 years, lecturing on comparative philology, the origin of the French and Italian languages, ancient and mediaeval poetry, and the drama. His principal works are: Chants populaires de la Grece moderne, with translations and notes (1824-5); Histoire de la Gaule meridionale sous la domination des con-querants germains (4 vols., 1836); Histoire de la croisade contre les heretiques albigeois, translated from the Provencal verse of a contemporary (1837); Histoire de la poesie proven-pale (3 vols.. 1840); and Dante et les origines de la langue et de la litterature italiennes (2 vols., 1854); besides some literary collections, and important articles in the Revue des Deux Mondes (1832-'43), and in the Bibliotheque de VEcole des Chartes. A portion of the "History of Provencal Poetry was translated into English by G. J. Adler (New York, 18G0).