MEIGNAN, GUILLAUME-RENÉ. - Cardinal, biblical exegete and apologist, b. at Chauvigné (Mayenne) on 12 Apr. 1817, d. at Tours on 19 Jan. 1896. He went to Munich and Berlin (1842–43) to pursue advanced studies in philosophy and biblical exegesis. Later (1845–46) he was also in Rome, where he took his doctorate in theology. In 1861 he was appointed professor of Sacred Scripture at the Sorbonne. Three years later he was elected bishop of Châlons; he then transferred to the see of Arras (1882) and of Tours (1884). In 1892 Leo XIII created him cardinal, with the title of the S.ma Trinità de' Monti.
M. wrote many works, of a rather popularizing character, to counter the influence of E. Renan; among others: Les prophéties messianiques. Le Pentateuque (Paris 1856); Les deux premiers livres des Rois (ibid. 1878); Les prophètes d'Israël, quatre siècles de lutte contre l'idolâtrie (ibid. 1892); Les prophètes d'Israël et le Messie. I, Depuis Salomon jusqu'à Daniel (ibid. 1893); II, Depuis Daniel jusqu'à Jean-Baptiste (ibid. 1894).