Augustin de Backer
Encyclopedia
Augustin de Backer was a Belgian Jesuit and renowned bibliographer
.
) and Switzerland Fribourg
. After schooling, and rather than going to the university, he undertook to visit libraries of France and Belgium in search of books printed by Plantin
. In 1835, he was received into the Society of Jesus
(in Rome) by the Superior General, Father John-Baptist Roothaan
, who sent him back to Nivelles
, in Belgium
, for his novitiate (29 June 1835). He taught three years in the school of Namur
(1837-1840), and in 1840, began his studies for the priesthood in Louvain
. Ordained priest on the 10 September 1843.
of Bacon with the help of scientific methods unavailable at the time of Nathaniel Bacon. Based in Liège
he visited Belgian and foreign libraries and, with the help of his natural brother Alois de Backer (also, coincidentally, a Jesuit), started publishing, from 1853 on, his magnum opus
: La bibliothèque des écrivains de la Compagnie de Jésus. For each Jesuit author a short biographical note was given, along with the list of all his writings in their successive editions. The first edition was 7 volumes (printed from 1853 to 1861). Carlos Sommervogel
(1834-1902)'s Bibliothèque de la Compagnie de Jésus remains the standard reference book for research into Jesuit writings till the end of the 19th century.
Bibliographer
"A bibliographer is a person who describes and lists books and other publications, with particular attention to such characteristics as authorship, publication date, edition, typography, etc. The result of this endeavor is a bibliography...
.
Early years and Formation
De Backer left his country to be educated at the Jesuit schools of France (Beauregard, Saint-AcheulSaint-Acheul
Saint-Acheul is a commune in the Somme department in Picardie in northern France. It is not to be confused with Saint-Acheul, a suburb of Amiens after which the Acheulean archaeological culture of the Lower Paleolithic is named.-Geography:...
) and Switzerland Fribourg
Fribourg
Fribourg is the capital of the Swiss canton of Fribourg and the district of Sarine. It is located on both sides of the river Saane/Sarine, on the Swiss plateau, and is an important economic, administrative and educational center on the cultural border between German and French Switzerland...
. After schooling, and rather than going to the university, he undertook to visit libraries of France and Belgium in search of books printed by Plantin
Plantin
Plantin may refer to:*Christophe Plantin , Humanist, printer, and publisher*Plantin *Plantin Press, 16th century Antwerp publisher*Plantin-Moretus Museum, Antwerp*6808 Plantin, asteroid...
. In 1835, he was received into the Society of Jesus
Society of Jesus
The Society of Jesus is a Catholic male religious order that follows the teachings of the Catholic Church. The members are called Jesuits, and are also known colloquially as "God's Army" and as "The Company," these being references to founder Ignatius of Loyola's military background and a...
(in Rome) by the Superior General, Father John-Baptist Roothaan
Jan Roothaan
Jan Philipp Roothaan was a Dutch Jesuit, elected 21st Superior-General of the Society of Jesus.-Early Life and Formation:...
, who sent him back to Nivelles
Nivelles
Nivelles is a Walloon city and municipality located in the Belgian province of Walloon Brabant. The Nivelles municipality includes the old communes of Baulers, Bornival, Thines, and Monstreux....
, in Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
, for his novitiate (29 June 1835). He taught three years in the school of Namur
Namur (city)
Namur is a city and municipality in Wallonia, in southern Belgium. It is both the capital of the province of Namur and of Wallonia....
(1837-1840), and in 1840, began his studies for the priesthood in Louvain
Catholic University of Leuven
The Catholic University of Leuven, or of Louvain, was the largest, oldest and most prominent university in Belgium. The university was founded in 1425 as the University of Leuven by John IV, Duke of Brabant and approved by a Papal bull by Pope Martin V.During France's occupation of Belgium in the...
. Ordained priest on the 10 September 1843.
Bibliographer
While at Louvain, he came across the Bibliotheca Scriptorum Societatis Jesu published in 1676 by Nathaniel Bacon, and he resolved to revise and update the bibliographyBibliography
Bibliography , as a practice, is the academic study of books as physical, cultural objects; in this sense, it is also known as bibliology...
of Bacon with the help of scientific methods unavailable at the time of Nathaniel Bacon. Based in Liège
Liège
Liège is a major city and municipality of Belgium located in the province of Liège, of which it is the economic capital, in Wallonia, the French-speaking region of Belgium....
he visited Belgian and foreign libraries and, with the help of his natural brother Alois de Backer (also, coincidentally, a Jesuit), started publishing, from 1853 on, his magnum opus
Masterpiece
Masterpiece in modern usage refers to a creation that has been given much critical praise, especially one that is considered the greatest work of a person's career or to a work of outstanding creativity, skill or workmanship....
: La bibliothèque des écrivains de la Compagnie de Jésus. For each Jesuit author a short biographical note was given, along with the list of all his writings in their successive editions. The first edition was 7 volumes (printed from 1853 to 1861). Carlos Sommervogel
Carlos Sommervogel
Carlos Sommervogel was a French Jesuit scholar. He was author of the monumental Bibliothèque de la Compagnie de Jésus, which served as one of the major references for the editors of the Catholic Encyclopedia....
(1834-1902)'s Bibliothèque de la Compagnie de Jésus remains the standard reference book for research into Jesuit writings till the end of the 19th century.