Lazare de Baïf (1496–1547) was a French diplomat and humanist. His natural son, Jean-Antoine de Baïf, was born in Venice, while Lazare was French ambassador there. He published a translation of the Electra of Sophocles in 1537, and afterwards a version of the Hecuba. He was an elegant writer of Latin verse, and is commended by Joachim du Bellay as having introduced certain valuable words into the French language. References External links 1496 births 1547 deaths People from Sarthe 16th-century French writers 16th-century male writers French classical scholars French Renaissance humanists 16th-century French diplomats French translators French male non-fiction writers