Auguste Théodore Vander Meersch (1810–1881) was a Belgian writer who was heavily involved in producing the ''

Biographie Nationale de Belgique The ''Biographie nationale de Belgique'' (; ) is a biographical dictionary of Belgium. It was published by the Royal Academy of Belgium in 44 volumes between 1866 and 1986. A continuation series, entitled the ''Nouvelle Biographie Nationale'' (, ...

''.

Life

Vander Meersch was born in

Ghent Ghent ( ; ; historically known as ''Gaunt'' in English) is a City status in Belgium, city and a Municipalities of Belgium, municipality in the Flemish Region of Belgium. It is the capital and largest city of the Provinces of Belgium, province ...

on 25 August 1810. He studied at

Ghent University Ghent University (, abbreviated as UGent) is a Public university, public research university located in Ghent, in the East Flanders province of Belgium. Located in Flanders, Ghent University is the second largest Belgian university, consisting o ...

, graduating with a doctorate in law in 1833. Abandoning the legal profession, he focused his efforts on local history and biographical research.

Paul Bergmans Paul Jean Etienne Charles Marie Bergmans (1868–1935) was a librarian in chief of the University of Ghent, and musical historian. Life Bergmans was born in Ghent on 23 February 1868. He began work at Ghent University Library on a voluntary basis ...

, "Meersch (Auguste-Théodore Vander)", ''

''
vol. 14
(Brussels, 1897), 260-261. When

Jules de Saint-Genois Jules, Baron de Saint-Genois (22 March 1813 – 10 September 1867) was a Belgian liberal politician, historian, librarian and professor at the University of Ghent. He was the first President of the Willemsfonds and a prolific contributor to the ...

launched the plan for a ''Biographie Nationale'', Vander Meersch drafted the first list of who should be included. He undertook the management of the venture, seeing to the printing, accounting and correspondence. He also wrote a number of entries himself, especially of lesser literary figures for which no takers could be found among the regular contributors. Vander Meersch was furthermore a contributor on political and economic questions to the daily newspapers. He died in Ghent on 7 November 1881.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Meersch, Auguste Vander 1810 births 1881 deaths Ghent University alumni Belgian biographers