BLONDEL, DAVID. - Calvinist theologian and historian, b. at Châlons-sur-Marne in 1591, d. at Amsterdam on 6 Apr. 1655. He began his ministry at Houdan near Paris.
In 1619 he published his first work: Modeste Déclaration de la sincérité et vérité des Eglises Réformées de France (Sedan 1619), which immediately brought him to the attention of his coreligionists and exerted great influence on public opinion regarding their rights in France. He took part four times in the national synods and represented them before the king in 1626. His renown increased with the publication of numerous historical writings, undoubtedly rich in learning but sectarian in spirit: De coena Domini disputatio, (ibid. 1610); De la primauté de l'Eglise (Geneva 1641); Apologia pro sententia Hieronymi de episcopis et presbyteris (Amsterdam 1646). He was historiographer to the king of France and, upon the death of Vossio, in 1650, he ascended to the chair of history at Amsterdam, where he remained until the end of his life, working with tireless tenacity. All his works are on the Index.