Henri Louis Habert de Montmor

A supporter of Descartes, Habert wrote a poem on Cartesian physics entitled De rerum naturae and collected scientific instruments.

Three years after Gassendi's death, Habert edited his complete works in 6 volumes, writing its Latin preface.

Besides Gassendi, he gathered a salon of savants and philosophers which included, among others: Pierre Daniel Huet, Jean Chapelain, Adrien Auzout, Girard Desargues, Samuel Sorbière, Claude Clerselier, Jacques Rohault, Guy Patin, Frénicle de Bessy, Pierre Petit, Melchisédech Thévenot, Roberval and Huygens.

[1] It ceased to exist in 1664 as a result of petty squabbles, but one of the members, Adrien Auzout, indicated in a letter of dedication to Louis XIV in 1664 that there was a need for a public observatory, and that there was a group ready to begin its work if it received royal sponsorship.

A proposed constitution was circulated to former Academy members but numerous modifications were made before the Académie des sciences was finally created in 1666.