Fonténai, Louis-Abel Bonafous, abbé de (1736-1806)

French man of letters.

Jesuit (1753); taught at the collège d’Albi and collège de Tournon. When the French order of Jesuits was dissolved (1764), he settled in Paris and adopted the pen name “abbé de Fonténai.”

Founded and edited the journal Affiches, annonces et avis divers (1779-84), later called Journal général de France (1785-91) and Journal général (1791-92). Published numerous anthologies on philosophy and art, two defenses of the Bourbons, and a work on the Jesuits.

Son of Louis and Marianne (Ouradou) Fonténai of Castelnau-de-Brassac (Tarn).