THE
IMPERIAL DICTIONARY
OF
UNIVERSAL BIOGRAPHY:
A SERIES OF ORIGINAL MEMOIRS.
* DAA, Ludwig Christensin, a Norwegian man of letters and politician, was born on the 19th of August, 1809, at Fiskevaag in the Saltdal, Nordland. From 1835 to 1837 he held the post of docent of history and geography at the university of Christiania, and in 1838 made a journey to France and England to study political economy. In 1852 he was appointed head master of the cathedral school of Christiania, and again in 1856 visited France and England for the purpose of ethnological study. From 1842 to 1845 he sat in the storthing or diet for Akershuus, and in 1854 he was chosen to represent Christiania. He also held, from 1839 to 1851, the office of stats-revisor. He is earnest in his literary character, an ardent lover of his country, and consequently a supporter of democratic opinions. Besides having contributed to several newspapers, both at home and abroad, and written largely on political, critical, and historical subjects, he is the author of the "Svensk-Norsk Haandordbog" (Swedish-Norwegian Hand Dictionary), published in 1841; "Udsigt om Ethnologien" (Sketch of Ethnology), 1855; and "Jordbeskrivelse for den Norse Almuc" (Description of the Earth for the Norwegian People), 1857.—(Nordisk Con. Lex.)—M. H.
DACH, Johann, also called, from the birthplace of his father, Johann von Aachen, one of the artists whom the German emperor, Rudolph II., delighted to patronize, was born at Cologne in 1566, and studied under Sprangher. He was commissioned by his patron to go to Italy to take copies from the choicest works of that country. His success procured him a hearty reception on his return to Germany, especially at the court of Vienna, where he continued to exercise his art, until a very advanced age. He died full of honours and fame in 1650. England possesses many of his careful drawings.—R. M.
DACH, Simon, a German lyric poet, was born at Memel, 29th July, 1605, and died at Königsberg, 15th April, 1659. After having studied at Königsberg, he was appointed to a mastership in the cathedral school, and in 1639 to the chair of poetry in the university. As a specimen of his poetry, which is alike distinguished by simplicity, tenderness, and piety, we may note his beautiful piece, "Annie of Tharaw," which has been admirably translated by Professor Longfellow.—K. E.
DACIER, André, a distinguished French scholar, was born at Castres in 1651. After receiving such education as his native town afforded, he was sent to Saumur for the benefit of studying under the learned Tanneguy Lefevre. This event was destined to exercise an important influence upon his life, for it introduced him to a fellow pupil, Anne, the daughter of his preceptor. A sympathy of tastes soon attracted them to each other, and their mutual affection led ultimately, in 1683, to a union which was wittily designated, "the marriage of Greek and Latin." This connection introduced him to the notice of the duke of Montausier, who had charge of the education of the dauphin; and in consequence he was commissioned to assist in preparing an edition of the classics, afterwards known as the "Delphin edition," a task in which his wife was associated. Though an excellent scholar, Dacier's admiration of the ancients obscured his judgment, and he could see no fault in his favourite authors. Many of his translations and commentaries possess high merit, and still maintain their place as educational works. Through the interest of his patron he was appointed librarian of the Louvre; he was also elected a member of the Academy of Inscriptions, and of the Academie Française, of which he was eventually appointed perpetual secretary. He died on the 18th of September, 1722.—J. F. W.
DACIER, Anne, wife of the preceding, was born at Saumur in March, 1654. Her father, M. Tanneguy Lefevre, seeing her aptitude for learning, educated her with great care, and the girl made admirable use of the advantages which her father's erudition and genius placed within her reach, possessing herself with avidity of the instruction which he was in the habit of giving to his son. It was soon manifest that the pupil was likely to rival her preceptor in an accurate and profound knowledge of the Greek and Latin classics. It was while thus occupied that fortune brought under the same roof a young scholar who shared her studies and won her heart. André Dacier, as we have already mentioned, came to Saumur to study under the father and beside the daughter. The death of Lefevre, in 1672, threw Anne upon her own resources. She repaired to the capital, where she found many of her father's friends ready to aid her. Her learning won her the patronage of the duke of Montausier, who engaged her to edit, for the use of the dauphin, some of the classical authors. This task Mademoiselle Lefevre executed with singular ability, exhibiting great critical acumen and a large knowledge of classical authors. So great was the satisfaction which she gave that a pension was conferred upon her. It was while thus occupied that she renewed her intimacy with M. Dacier, and they were married in 1683. The union was one which not only insured their domestic happiness, but joined them thenceforth in the congenial work of erudition, and the production of those works which have conferred on them a lasting celebrity. Of these Madame Dacier produced the most important. Her greatest work is the translation of Homer's Iliad, which is replete with scholarly elucidations. She subsequently published a translation of the Odyssey. She died in August 17, 1720. Madame Dacier deservedly holds a high place amongst the literary women of France. Her acquirements were remarkably solid; she was a sound critic and an accurate scholar; but she erred, like her husband, in an over-partiality for antiquity. As a woman, Madame Dacier was highly estimable. Simple, unaffected, and modest, she knew how to be silent as well as to converse agreeably. To Madame Dacier, as has been well observed, her sex owes much, for she has proved of what great things women are capable.—J. F. W.
DÆDALUS: the name given to a great number of the artists of antiquity, the most notable of whom is the quasi-mythic Athenian, son of Motion and grandson of Eupalamus. He is said to have been a descendant of Erechteus, king of Athens, and is supposed to have lived about 1380 b.c. Much of what is said respecting him by the Greek writers must be regarded as purely mythical, but enough remains, after deducting this, to entitle him to the honour of being considered the father of sculpture amongst the Greeks. To him is attributed the invention of the wedge, of the axe, of the wimble, of the saw, and many other instruments of carpentry. The wooden images of
