Born in Nîmes in 1703, Jean-François Séguier was destined to succeed his father, a councillor at the Présidial, until he met Scipion Maffei, held to be the most learned Italian of his era. This encounter was to change the course of his life.

Travels across Europe

From 1732 to 1736, the two scholars set off on a journey that was to take them to Provence, to Paris, where they lived for three years, to London, where they spent four months, then to the United Provinces and across the Holy Roman Empire as far as Vienna, before returning to Verona, where Séguier stayed until the marquis' death in 1755. Living at the Maffei palace, Séguier spent nineteen years reading into a vast array of subjects : astronomy, meteorology, botany, palaeontology and epigraphy. He likewise helped Maffei to complete the collections for the first methodologically organised  archaeological museum in continental Europe, the Museo Maffeiano. Most of Séguier's works were published during this period.

When Europe Came to Séguier

After the marquis' death, Séguier returned to his home town in October 1755, bringing all his collections with him. The Académie Royale, which had been renewed largely thanks to his efforts, went on to appoint him one of its "fixed Academicians" in 1755, its Director (1757), its perpetual Secretary (1765) and finally its Protector (1784). The importance of his vast scholarly correspondence maintained over these years is yet to be gauged, from the earliest surviving letters in 1728, through to 1784, counting 330 identified correspondents. He had a house built in 1772 to look after his library and collections. Henceforth, a visit to Séguier's became a must for scholars from across Europe. He kept a logbook from 1773 to 1783 in which he noted the names of "distinguished persons who honoured him with a visit", revealing more than 1,500 visitors from at least 23 different countries.

The Naturalist

From his earliest days, Séguier kept a remarkable herb garden, which he later enriched after travels through the Verona and Vicentina regions, and then by swapping specimens and asking other travellers to bring him back seeds or plants from far-flung places. He was equally one of the forerunners in palaeontology.

The Astronomer

He learnt basic skills in astronomy in Montpellier and perfected them in Paris, but it was in Verona that he put his knowledge into practice, studying the passage of comets and eclipses of the sun and moon. He continued his observations when he returned to Nîmes.

The Archaeologist

Séguier's knowledge of classical architecture was put to good use in his efforts to conserve the monumental heritage of Nîmes. He was notably commissioned by the Etats de Languedoc to oversee the reinforcement and restoration works on the Maison Carré 1777 – 1780).

The Epigrapher

Séguier undertook a catalogue of all Greco-Roman and Etruscan inscriptions known in his era. Séguier pursued this colossal work, Inscriptionum antiquarum index absolutissimus..., first drafted by Maffei, throughout his life, providing a mine of information for nineteenth-century scholars. He published his Dissertation on the old inscription of the Maison Carré in Nîmes in 1759.

The Numismatist

His coin collection, one of the most complete in his era, contained 6,000 different currencies, including an important series of Greek coins and gold currencies.