Family Name: Joncourt
First Name: Elie
Birth Date: 1695
Birth Place: Middelbourg
Death Date: Wed, Aug 28, 1765
Death Place: The Hague
Main places of activity:
Place From To
Bois-le-Duc (Netherlands) Mar , 1722 Aug, 1727
Place From To
London Aug, 1727 Apr, 1728
Place From To
Bois-le-Duc Apr, 1728 1752
Personal info:
Education

Joncourt studied at Leiden University, although he barely attended the courses and changed his curriculum several times. He started a cursus studiorum in philosophy in 1714, then matriculated at the Faculty of Theology in 1716 and again in 1719. He probably left the University in 1720, but obtained the title of doctor honoris causa in philosophy in 1732, thanks to 'sGravesande's intercession.
Career

He was elected pastor of the Walloon Church in Bois-le-Duc (Hertogenbosch) in 1722, and later performed his duties at the Embassy in London, where he resided from 1727 to 1728 for the coronation of George II.

Back in the Netherlands, he became principal minister in Bois-le-Duc in 1737. He was also appointed professor in the same year and started teaching mathematics for free at the prestigious École in Bois-le-Duc. He retired to The Hague in May 1748.
Financial Situation

According to his grand-nephew Louis de Joncourt, at his death his personal fortune constited of 1300£.

From 1738 he received a salary of 250 Dutch guilders until his death in 1765.
Translations Other Works

translations activities

Joncourt was a very prolific and eclectic translator, working in Latin, French, English and Dutch. He published his editions mainly in The Hague.

Religious works constituted a considerable part of his publications, ranging from sermons of English theologians translated into French to books from the Bible. For the latter, he benefited from the help of his fellow journalist and editor at the Journal littéraire Jacques Sacrelaire, which enabled him to compose a French version of the Latin translation by the Hebrew philologist Albert Schultens.

Joncourt's interest in mathematics and philosophy led him to translate and distribute diverse Newtonian treatises and ideas from across the Channel. He accordingly also encouraged French and Dutch editions of Willem Jacob 'sGravesande's main works. 'sGravesande was Joncourt's fellow citizen, colleague and main source of inspiration.

In addition, Joncourt published translations of Alexander Pope's complete Works and George Lyttelton's Dialogues of the Dead, showing a personal awareness and sensibility to poetry. As a journalist, he published a couple of volumes of Joseph Addion's Spectator and after his retirement he started the journal Nouvelle Bibliothèque Angloise (1756-1757) in The Hague, to review the scientific and literary novelties of the United Kingdom and publicize his own translations.

Joncourt eventually translated his own mathematical treatise from Latin to Dutch and French.

secondary bibliography references

P. Marchand, Dictionnaire historique, ou Mémoires critiques et littéraires, t. II, The Hague, Pierre de Hondt, 1759, p. 216.

M. Couperus, 'Elie de Joncourt (1697-1765)', in Dictionnaire des Journalistes (1600-1789).

J. Sgard, 'Nouvelle bibliothèque anglaise (1756-1757)', in ibidem.

R. Granderoute, 'Journal historique de la république des lettres (1732-1733)', in ibidem.

M. J. L. Maass, Het Journal litteraire de La Haye (1713-1723): de uitwendige geschiedenis van een geleerdentijdschrift, Deventer, De Bruijn, 2001.

Translations

  • A Preservative Against Popery: Being Some Plain Directions to Unlearned Protestants, how to Dispute with Romish Priests

  • Translation Title: Préservatif contre le papisme, divisé en deux parties dont la première contient des conseils fort aisez sur la manière de disputer avec ceux de l'Église Romaine, et la seconde fait voir jusqu'à quel point le papisme est contraire aux véritables vues de la religion chrétienne,
  • Original Author: William Sherlock
  • Original title: A Preservative Against Popery: Being Some Plain Directions to Unlearned Protestants, how to Dispute with Romish Priests
  • Publ. Year From: 1687 to:
  • lang: English
  • Translation: Préservatif contre le papisme, divisé en deux parties dont la première contient des conseils fort aisez sur la manière de disputer avec ceux de l'Église Romaine, et la seconde fait voir jusqu'à quel point le papisme est contraire aux véritables vues de la religion chrétienne,
  • Publisher: J. Néaulme
  • Pub. Place: The Hague
  • Pub. Date: 1720
  • Lang: French

  • Sermons Preach'd upon Several Occassions

  • Translation Title: Sermons sur divers textes importants de l'Écriture sainte
  • Original Author: William Sherlock
  • Original title: Sermons Preach'd upon Several Occassions
  • Publ. Year From: 1701 to:
  • lang: English
  • Note:

    The 1702 is the second edition, the first being difficult to individuate.
  • Translation: Sermons sur divers textes importants de l'Écriture sainte
  • Publisher: J. Néaulme
  • N° Editions: 2
  • Pub. Place: The Hague
  • Pub. Date: 1722
  • Lang: French
  • Note:

    A second edition was issued in 1724

  • Fifteen Sermons on Death and Judgment, and a Future State

  • Translation Title: Sermons sur la mort et sur le jugement
  • Original Author: Richard Lucas
  • Original title: Fifteen Sermons on Death and Judgment, and a Future State
  • Publ. Year From: 1715 to:
  • lang: English
  • Translation: Sermons sur la mort et sur le jugement
  • Publisher: J. Néaulme
  • Pub. Place: The Hague
  • Pub. Date: 1724
  • Lang: French

  • Alciphron: Or, The Minute Philosopher. In Seven Dialogues

  • Translation Title: Alciphron, ou Le petit philosophe; en sept dialogues
  • Original Author: George Berkeley
  • Original title: Alciphron: Or, The Minute Philosopher. In Seven Dialogues
  • Publ. Year From: 1731 to:
  • lang: English
  • Translation: Alciphron, ou Le petit philosophe; en sept dialogues
  • Publisher: Rolin and Benjamin Gibert
  • N° Editions: 3
  • Pub. Place: Paris and The Hague
  • Pub. Date: 1733
  • Lang: French
  • Note:

    Joncourt's translation was issued simultaneously in Paris and in The Hague, with this latter edition being printed by two different publishers.

  • Introductio ad philosophiam: metaphysicam et logicam continens

  • Translation Title: Introduction à la philosophie, contenant la métaphysique, et la logique.
  • Original Author: Willem Jacob 's Gravesande
  • Original title: Introductio ad philosophiam: metaphysicam et logicam continens
  • Publ. Year From: 1735 to:
  • lang: Latin
  • Translation: Introduction à la philosophie, contenant la métaphysique, et la logique.
  • Publisher: J. and H. Verbeek
  • Pub. Place: Leiden
  • Pub. Date: 1736
  • Lang: French
  • Note:

    A second edition was issued in 1748.

  • Physices elementa mathematica, experimentis confirmata, sive introductio ad philosophiam Newtonianam

  • Translation Title: Elemens de physique démontrez mathématiquement et confirmez par des expériences, ou introduction à la philosophie newtonienne
  • Original Author: Willem Jacob 's Gravesande
  • Original title: Physices elementa mathematica, experimentis confirmata, sive introductio ad philosophiam Newtonianam
  • Publ. Year From: 1719 to: 1720
  • lang: Latin
  • Translation: Elemens de physique démontrez mathématiquement et confirmez par des expériences, ou introduction à la philosophie newtonienne
  • Publisher: J. and H. Verbeek
  • Pub. Place: Leiden
  • Pub. Date: 1745
  • Lang: French

  • A Voyage Round the World, in the Years 1740-44

  • Translation Title: Voyage autour du monde, fait dans les années MDCCXL, I, II, III, IV
  • Original Author: George Anson
  • Original title: A Voyage Round the World, in the Years 1740-44
  • Publ. Year From: 1747 to:
  • lang: English
  • Translation: Voyage autour du monde, fait dans les années MDCCXL, I, II, III, IV
  • Publisher: Akstée & Merkus
  • Pub. Place: Amsterdam and Leipzig
  • Pub. Date: 1748
  • Lang: French
  • Note:

    A second edition was published in Paris in 1750, and a third one again in Amsterdam and Leipzig in 1751.

  • A Dissertation on the Numbers of Mankind in Ancient and Modern Times

  • Translation Title: Essai sur la différence du nombre des hommes dans les tems anciens et modernes, dans lequel on établit qu'il étoit plus considérable dans l'antiquité
  • Original Author: Robert Wallace
  • Original title: A Dissertation on the Numbers of Mankind in Ancient and Modern Times
  • Publ. Year From: 1752 to:
  • lang: English
  • Translation: Essai sur la différence du nombre des hommes dans les tems anciens et modernes, dans lequel on établit qu'il étoit plus considérable dans l'antiquité
  • Publisher: ?
  • Pub. Place: London?
  • Pub. Date: 1753
  • Lang: French

  • The Works of Alexander Pope

  • Translation Title: Oeuvres diverses de Pope
  • Original Author: Alexander Pope
  • Original title: The Works of Alexander Pope
  • Publ. Year From: 1750 to:
  • lang: English
  • Translation: Oeuvres diverses de Pope
  • Publisher: Arkstée et Merkus
  • Pub. Place: Amsterdam and Leipzig
  • Pub. Date: 1753
  • Lang: French
  • Note:

    Compared to Warburton's edition used as surce, this one arranged Pope's production in a different order. Another edition was issued in 1763.







  • The Spectator

  • Translation Title: Le Spectateur, ou le Socrate moderne, où l'on voit un portrait naïf des moeurs ce siècle
  • Original Author: Joseph Addison
  • Original title: The Spectator
  • Publ. Year From: 1710 to: 1713
  • lang: English
  • Translation: Le Spectateur, ou le Socrate moderne, où l'on voit un portrait naïf des moeurs ce siècle
  • Publisher: Arkstée et Merkus
  • Pub. Place: Amsterdam and Leipzig
  • Pub. Date: 1749
  • Lang: French
  • Note:

    Joncourt translated the English of the VI and the VIII tomes for the collection of periodicals, but used other sources for the quotes included in the original work.

    In the Preface, he refers to Jerôme Tarteron's translations from Latin of Juvenal, Persius and Horace and the Huguetan's edition of Martial's works edited in Amsterdam in 1701.

    Another edition was issued by J. N. Leloup in Paris in 1754.


  • A view of Sir Isaac Newton’s philosophy

  • Translation Title: Élémens de la philosophie newtonienne
  • Original Author: Henry Pemberton
  • Original title: A view of Sir Isaac Newton’s philosophy
  • Publ. Year From: 1727 to:
  • lang: English
  • Translation: Élémens de la philosophie newtonienne
  • Publisher: Arkstée et Merkus
  • Pub. Place: Amsterdam and Leipzig
  • Pub. Date: 1754
  • Lang: French

  • The elements of algebra, in ten books

  • Translation Title: Élémens d'algèbre
  • Original Author: Nicholas Saunderson
  • Original title: The elements of algebra, in ten books
  • Publ. Year From: 1739 to:
  • lang: English
  • Translation: Élémens d'algèbre
  • Publisher: Arkstée et Merkus
  • Pub. Place: Amsterdam and Leipzig
  • Pub. Date: 1755
  • Lang: French
  • Note:

    Another edition was issued the same year in Paris.

  • The elements of moral philosophy. In three books

  • Translation Title: Élémens de philosophie morale
  • Original Author: David Fordyce
  • Original title: The elements of moral philosophy. In three books
  • Publ. Year From: 1753 to:
  • lang: English
  • Translation: Élémens de philosophie morale
  • Publisher: H. Scheurleer
  • Pub. Place: The Hague
  • Pub. Date: 1755
  • Lang: French

  • Dialogues of the Dead

  • Translation Title: Dialogues des morts
  • Original Author: George Lyttelton, first Baron Lyttelton
  • Original title: Dialogues of the Dead
  • Publ. Year From: 1759 to:
  • lang: English
  • Translation: Dialogues des morts
  • Publisher: Pierre de Hondt
  • Pub. Place: The Hague
  • Lang: French

  • Book of Job

  • Translation Title: Le livre de Job
  • Original Author: Anonymous
  • Original title: Book of Job
  • Publ. Year From: -0001 to:
  • lang: Hebrew
  • Title: Liber Iobi cum nova versione ad Hebraeum fontem et commentario perpetuo
  • Publisher: Johannes Luzac
  • Pub. Place: Leiden
  • Pub. Year: 1736
  • Lang: Latin
  • Translation: Le livre de Job
  • Publisher: Jean Luzac
  • Pub. Place: Leiden
  • Pub. Date: 1747
  • Lang: French

  • Book of Proverbs

  • Translation Title: Les proverbes de Salomon
  • Original Author: Anonymous
  • Original title: Book of Proverbs
  • Publ. Year From: -0001 to:
  • lang: Hebrew
  • Title: Proverbia Salomonis. Versionem integram ad Haebreum fontem
  • Publisher: Johannes Luzac
  • Pub. Place: Leiden
  • Pub. Year: 1747
  • Lang: Latin
  • Translation: Les proverbes de Salomon
  • Pub. Place: Leiden
  • Pub. Date: 1751
  • Lang: French

  • The Choice of Hercules

  • Translation Title: Wellust en deugd, of Droom van Hercules
  • Original Author: Xenophon
  • Original title: The Choice of Hercules
  • Publ. Year From: -0001 to:
  • lang: Greek
  • Note:

    This story is part of Xenophon's Memorabilia, book II, which constituted a collection of Socratic dialogues.
  • Translation: Wellust en deugd, of Droom van Hercules
  • Publisher: P. van Os
  • Pub. Place: The Hague
  • Pub. Date: 1758
  • Lang: Dutch
  • Note:

    Joncourt transformed Xenophon's original story into a pome in verses.

  • Selected poems

  • Translation Title: Het algemeen gebed, en de stervende christen tot zyne ziel
  • Original Author: Alexander Pope
  • Original title: Selected poems
  • Publ. Year From: 1711 to: 1737
  • lang: English
  • Translation: Het algemeen gebed, en de stervende christen tot zyne ziel
  • Publisher: H. Bakhuyzen
  • Pub. Place: The Hague
  • Pub. Date: 1759
  • Lang: Dutch
  • Note:

    Joncourt issued the translation of two poems from Pope: The Universal Prayer (1738) and The Dying Christian to His Soul (composed in 1712).

  • Matheseos universalis elementa

  • Translation Title: Algebra of Algemeene Wiskunde
  • Original Author: Willem Jacob 's Gravesande
  • Original title: Matheseos universalis elementa
  • Publ. Year From: 1726 to:
  • lang: Latin
  • Translation: Algebra of Algemeene Wiskunde
  • Publisher: J-M. Husson
  • Pub. Place: The Hague
  • Pub. Date: 1762
  • Lang: Dutch

  • De natura et praeclaro usu simplicissimae speciei numerorum trigonalium

  • Translation Title: De la nature et des principaux usages de la plus simple espece de nombres trigonaux
  • Original Author: Elie de Joncourt
  • Original title: De natura et praeclaro usu simplicissimae speciei numerorum trigonalium
  • Publ. Year From: 1761 to:
  • lang: Latin
  • Translation: De la nature et des principaux usages de la plus simple espece de nombres trigonaux
  • Publisher: J. M. Husson
  • Pub. Place: The Hague
  • Pub. Date: 1761
  • Lang: French
  • Note:

    Joncourt wrote this treaty in Latin and then translated it in French and in Dutch (under the title Aart en gebruik der eenvoudigste driehoekige getallen) in the same year and for the same publisher.



calamaio

By:

  • Giovanni Lista