Vernes Jacob, born the May 31st 1728 with Geneva, dead the October 22nd 1791, is a Théologien and Pasteur protesting of Geneva, famous for his correspondence with Voltaire and Rousseau and author of “ Philosophical Confidence ”. In this work written in the shape of a novel, Jacob Vernes is caught some in Voltaire and the principles of the school Encyclopédiste. Its liveliness lampoonist ensured the success of this breviary of the anti-materialism which widely was translated and diffused in Europe.

It was mingled with loan with “the Affaire Vernes-Necker”, of which one of the principal protagonists was his brother Pierre Vernes and who burst in 1760. Elisabeth Badinter described it as an unhappy history of love which tarnishes the ideal image of the Republic given by of Alembert in the “Encyclopédie”.

Jacob Vernes was, amongst other things, Pasteur of Céligny (1761-1768) and of the Large-Saconnex (1768-1770), married to Marianne Simonde in 1764, brother-in-law of Jean-Jacques Juventin and uncle of Jean de Sismondi.