MEIGNAN, GUILLAUME-RENÉ. — Cardinal, accomplished biblical scholar, and apologist, born at Chauviné (Mayenne) on 12 April 1817, died at Tours on 19 January 1896. He pursued advanced studies in philosophy and biblical exegesis at Munich and Berlin (1842–43). Later (1845–46) he was also in Rome, where he earned a degree in theology. In 1861 he was appointed professor of Sacred Scripture at the Sorbonne. Three years later he was elected Bishop of Châlons, then transferred to the see of Arras (1882) and of Tours (1884). In 1892 Leo XIII created him cardinal with the title of Santa Maria in Traspontina.
M. wrote many works, largely of a popularizing nature, to counter the influence of E. Renan; among them: Les prophéties messianiques. Le Pentateuque (Paris 1856); Les deux premiers livres des Rois (ibid. 1878); Les prophéties d'Israël, quatre siècles de lutte contre l'idolatrie (ibid. 1892); Les prophéties d'Israël et le Messie. I, Depuis Salomon jusqu'à Daniel (ibid. 1893); II, Depuis Daniel jusqu'à Jean-Baptiste (ibid. 1894).