John Gagnier

John Gagnier (1670?–1740) was a French orientalist, resident for much of his life in England.

Biography

Gagnier was born in Paris about 1670, and educated at the College of Navarre. His tutor, Le Bossu, showed him a copy of Brian Walton's ‘Polyglott Bible’. This led him to master Hebrew and Arabic. After taking orders he was made a canon regular of the Abbey of St. Genevieve. Finding the life irksome, he retired to England, and ultimately became an Anglican clergyman.

In 1703 he was created M.A. at Cambridge by royal mandate. William Lloyd, appointed him his domestic chaplain and introduced him at Oxford. Gagnier subsequently settled at Oxford, and taught Hebrew. In 1717 he was appointed by the vice-chancellor to read the Arabic lecture at Oxford in the absence of the professor, John Wallis. The Lord Almoner's Professorship of Arabic at Oxford was conferred on Gagnier in 1724.

Death

Gagnier died on 2 March 1740. He left a son, John, born in 1721, who died on 27 January 1796, aged 75.