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Profile Author:
Under Review
Last Update:
2026-09-04
Status:
Under review
Mussard, Bénigne (* 1657.xx.xx † 1722.04.20)
Basic Overview Data
Born
1657.xx.xx, Montpellier
Died
1722.04.20, Geneva
Confession
Protestant, Calvinist
Institutional Affiliation
Academy (University) of Geneva
Keywords
Calvinism
Important Family Relations
Son, Pierre Mussard (1690.09.17 - 1767.12.24), honorary professor of natural and public law, member of the Small Council of the city of Geneva, syndic
Biographical and Intellectual Profile
Biography
Bénigne Mussard was born in Montpellier in 1657 and obtained his doctorate in law from the University of Montpellier. He returned to his home town Geneva in the aftermath of the revocation of the edict of Nantes. He was appointed honorary professor in law in 1686 as successor of Philipp Reinhard Vitriarius. He obtained a salary since 1691, and was promoted to ordinary professor in 1695. He kept this chair until his death on 20 April 1722. In 1704, he was elected head of the Collège de l'Académie, and he was also secretary of the Compagnie des pasteurs. His son Pierre, born in 1690, was to become honorary professor of natural and public law (1719-1722) and a highly influential member of the Genevan government.
Comment on main natural law works
No information is available on Mussard's teaching, and it seems that he did not publish any book in his own name. We only know two disputations and a dissertation he presided over.
Biographical Data
Degrees
../1685, Doctor of law, University of Montpellier
Career
1686 - 1695, honorary professor of law, Academy of Geneva
1695 - 1722, ordinary professor of law, Academy of Geneva
Titles, Memberships and Other Relevant Roles
1704, Director, Collège de l'Académie, Geneva
1704\.., Secretary, Compagnie des pasteurs, Geneva
Bibliographical Data
Printed Sources
Dissertations
John Ereskine de Alva, Disputatio juridica de sponsalibus et nuptiis [...] (Geneva: fratres de Tournes, 1698).
Jacques Mestrezat, Theses juridicae de mutuo [...] (Geneva: Vincent Miege, 1705), [Praeses: Bénigne Mussard]
Johan Steenlack, Disputatio juridica de Acquirendo Rerum Dominio (Geneva: Fabri & Barillot, 1717): Digital version
Manuscript Sources
Natural Law Network
Personal Connections
1690.09.17, Pierre Mussard, Geneva [Bénigne Mussard was Pierre's father.]
References and Acknowledgement
Profile References
Literature
Borgeaud, Charles: Histoire de l'Université de Genève, vol. 1: L'Académie de Calvin (1759-1798) (Geneva: Georg, 1900), p. 390, 428, 508, 511, 641.
Online Resources
"Mussard, Bénigne (1657-1722)" in Lumières.Lausanne: https://lumieres.unil.ch/fiches/bio/2914/?q=mussard
Zurbuchen, Simone: "Teaching the Law of Nature and Nations in the Swiss Context" in Etudes Lumières.Lausanne 6 (2018): http://lumieres.unil.ch/fiches/biblio/9472/
Acknowledgement
Profile Author:
Under Review