Life
Giuseppe Simone Assemani was born on 27 August 1687 in Hasroun, Mount Lebanon. When very young he was sent to the Maronite College in Rome, and was transferred thence to the Vatican library. He was ordained priest on 21 September 1710. In 1717 he was sent to Egypt and Syria to search for valuable manuscripts, and returned with about 150 very choice ones. In 1735 Pope Clement XII sent him again to the East where he presided over the 1736 Maronite Synod of Mount-Lebanon, which laid the foundations for the modern Maronite Church. He returned with a still more valuable collection.
On his return he was made, in 1739, First Librarian of the Vatican library. As reward of his activity he was consecrated titular archbishop of Tyre on 7 December 1766. by Prince Henry Cardinal Stuart, Duke of York. He died in Rome on 13 January 1768.
His brother and nephew were also noted orientalists.
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