# Ernest Renan

_French philosopher and writer (1823–1892)_

Canonical: https://diginpl.com/people/ernest-renan
Last updated: 2026-11-03

> Joseph Ernest Renan was a French Orientalist and Semitic scholar, writing on Semitic languages and civilizations, historian of religion, philologist, philosopher, biblical scholar, and critic. He wrote works on the origins of early Christianity, and espoused popular political theories especially concerning nationalism, national identity, and the supposed superiority of white people over other human races.

## Quick facts

- **Born:** 28 February 1823 ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q157155#P569))
- **Place of birth:** Tréguier ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q157155#P19))
- **Died:** 2 October 1892 ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q157155#P570))
- **Place of death:** 5th arrondissement of Paris ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q157155#P20))
- **Citizenship:** France ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q157155#P27))
- **Occupation:** philosopher; historian; writer; professor; archaeologist; orientalist ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q157155#P106))
- **Education:** Saint-Sulpice Seminary; Collège de France ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q157155#P69))
- **Spouse:** Cornélie Renan ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q157155#P26))
- **Positions held:** president (1884–1892); Director of the Collège de France (1883–1892); Member of the Académie française (13 June 1878 – 2 October 1892); president ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q157155#P39))
- **Awards:** Grand Officer of the Legion of Honour; Volney Prize; Imperial Order of the Rose ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q157155#P166))

## Questions

**When was Ernest Renan born?**  
Ernest Renan was born on 28 February 1823 in Tréguier.

**What positions has Ernest Renan held?**  
Positions held by Ernest Renan include: president (1884–1892); Director of the Collège de France (1883–1892); Member of the Académie française (1878–1892); president.

**Where did Ernest Renan study?**  
Ernest Renan was educated at Saint-Sulpice Seminary, Collège de France.

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## Sources

- [Wikipedia (English): Ernest Renan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ernest_Renan) — [CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)
- [Wikidata item Q157155](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q157155) — [CC0 1.0](https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/)
- [Image: Ernest Renan 1876-84.jpg by Antoine Samuel Adam-Salomon (Public domain)](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ernest_Renan_1876-84.jpg)

## Licence and attribution

Text from the Wikipedia article Ernest Renan, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. This page's text is shared under the same licence. Facts from Wikidata (CC0). Image: Ernest Renan 1876-84.jpg — Antoine Samuel Adam-Salomon, Public domain.

## Cite this page

"Ernest Renan". DigiNepal. Last updated 3 November 2026. https://diginpl.com/people/ernest-renan. Retrieved 6 November 2026.