CAMERONITES. - A French Calvinist sect that took its name from the Scotsman JOHANNES CAMERON (1577-1625), who, after studying philosophy at Glasgow, went to Bordeaux in France in 1600. The Reformed Church of that city sent him to study theology at Geneva and Heidelberg. While professor at Saumur (Maine-et-Loire) he adopted and defended certain doctrines admired (v. ARMINIANISM), which were imitated by Moses Amyraut, from whom the Amyrralists originated; but owing to subsequent difficulties he had to return to Scotland, where he remained only a year before moving back to France, to Montauban, where he is said to have died during a siege in 1625. He wrote the *Theological Lectures*.
Bibl.: J. H. Blunt, s. V. in *Dictionary of Sects, Heresies, Ecclesiastical Parties and Schools of Religion*, London 1874; pp. 99 ff.; I. F. Buddeus, *Isagoge historico-theologica theologiam universam, singulasque eius partes*, Leipzig 1730, pp. 1146, 1147, 1499, 1502. Camillo Crivelli