Professor of mathematics and science, writer on mathematical and scientific subjects, and editor; born at Tournai, Belgium, 1 February, 1829; died at Brussels, 4 March, 1889. He entered the Society of Jesus 8 September, 1844, applying himself to mathematical studies and contributing papers to the "Bulletins de l'academie royale de Belgique." After his ordination to the priesthood he spent six years, 1861 to 1867, teaching at Calcutta, and was the first editor of "The Indo-European Correspondence," 1865 to 1867.On his return to Europe he became professor of mathematics and astronomy at Louvain, but was soon appointed to the staff of "Etudes," the "Revue catholique," the "Annales de la société scientifiquede Bruxelles" and the "Revue des questiones scientifiques." In 1875 he founded the Scientific Society of Brussels, of which he became secretary in 1877, and from that year until his death he was editor of "Annales" and the "Revue." Some of his essays were republished under the title, "Les confins de la science et de la philosophie" (second edition in 2 vols., Paris, 1881).
Revue des questiones scientifiques (Brussels, 1869), 25; Précis historiques (Brussels, 1889), 190; Sommervogel, Bibl. de la c. de J., s.v.