Lavoisier, Marie-Anne-Pierrette, 1758-1836

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Marie-Anne Pierrette Lavoisier was a French chemist and noblewoman. Madame Lavoisier's first husband was chemist Antoine Lavoisier. She acted as his laboratory companion, using her linguistic skills to write up his work and bring it to an international audience. She also played a pivotal role in the translation of several scientific works, and was instrumental to the standardization of the scientific method.

In 1793 Antoine Lavoisier, due to his prominent position in the Ferme-Générale, was branded a traitor during the Reign of Terror by French revolutionaries. He surrendered to revolutionaries and was imprisoned at Port Libre. Throughout his imprisonment, Marie-Anne visited Lavoisier regularly and fought for his release. She presented his case before his accuser; she told of her husband's accomplishments as a scientist and his importance to the nation of France. Despite her efforts, Lavoisier was tried, convicted of treason, and executed on 8 May 1794 in Paris, at the age of 50.

After her husband's death, Marie-Anne became bitter. She was bankrupt following the new government's confiscation of her money and property (which were eventually returned). In addition, the new government seized all of Lavoisier's notebooks and laboratory equipment. Despite these obstacles, Marie-Anne organized the publication of Lavoisier's final memoirs, Mémoires de Chimie, a compilation of his papers and those of his colleagues demonstrating the principles of the new chemistry.

Marie-Anne remarried Benjamin Thompson in 1804. However, the marriage between the two was difficult and short-lived; they separated after three years. Marie-Anne insisted throughout her life that she retain her first husband's last name, demonstrating her undying devotion to him. Marie died very suddenly in her home in Paris on 10 February 1836, at the age of 78.

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
creatorOf Lavoisier, Marie-Anne-Pierrette, 1758-1836. Plans and architectural drawings of the exterior and interior, and landscaping of the residence erected by Madame Lavoisier (Countess Rumford) in Paris, [18--] Cornell University Library
creatorOf Lavoisier, Antoine Laurent, 1743-1794. Lavoisier artifacts, circa 1750-1794. Cornell University Library
creatorOf Lavoisier, Antoine Laurent, 1743-1794. Plans, architectural drawings, and sketches of various buildings owned by Lavoisier and Madame Lavoisier (Countess Rumford), [ca. 1832] Cornell University Library
referencedIn Blagden, Charles, Sir, 1748-1820. Letter, 1816 Oct. 3, Paris, to Countess Sarah Rumford, London. Dartmouth College Library
creatorOf Sévigné, Marie de Rabutin-Chantal, marquise de, 1626-1696. Lettres inédites de Madame de Sévigné, copiées sur les manuscrits autographes possédés par Mr. l'abbé Barthellemé, par Mme. Lavoisier-Rumford, [ca. 1806] Cornell University Library
referencedIn French, Sidney J. (Sidney James), 1894-. Letter, 1948 March 15, Hamilton, N.Y., to Sanborn C. Brown, Cambridge, Mass. Dartmouth College Library
referencedIn Rumford, Benjamin, Graf von, 1753-1814. Rumfordiana, 1775-[ongoing]. American Institute of Physics
referencedIn Rumford, Benjamin, Graf von, 1753-1814. Journal. Dartmouth College Library
creatorOf Lettres inédites de Madame de Sévigné, copiées sur les manuscrits autographes possédés par Mr. l'abbé Barthellemé, par Mme. Lavoisier-Rumford, [ca. 1806] New York State Historical Documents Inventory
referencedIn Choisy, Charles Thomas. Plans des fermes et domaines appartenans à Mme. Lavoisier : dans le canton de Villers-Cotterets / levés par Choisy, notaire et arpenteur à Villers-Cotterets, en 1792. Cornell University Library
referencedIn Rumford, Benjamin, Graf von, 1753-1814. Letters, 1793-1804, to Lady Palmerston. Dartmouth College Library
referencedIn Giovanni Valentino Mattia Fabbroni papers, ca. 1770s-1875, Circa 1770-1875 American Philosophical Society
referencedIn Lavoisier, Antoine Laurent, 1743-1794. Lavoisier manuscript collection, 1770-1794 (bulk). Cornell University Library
creatorOf Lavoisier, Marie-Anne-Pierrette, 1758-1836. Correspondance avec M. Dezairs et M. Mercier : notes réunies dans le registre relatives à toute la régie de Frechines, 1796-1797. Cornell University Library
creatorOf Du Pont de Nemours, Pierre Samuel, 1739-1817. Letters to Madame Lavoisier, 1788-1816. Houghton Library
referencedIn Benjamin Franklin Papers Part 6 -- Letters to Franklin, 1781-1782 American Philosophical Society
referencedIn Pierre Samuel Du Pont de Nemours letters to Madame Lavoisier, 1788-1816. Houghton Library
referencedIn [Recueil. Fonds de la photothèque de la documentation française. Portraits d'Antoine-Laurent et de Marie-Anne de Lavoisier] [Image fixe] : [photographie] Bibliothèque nationale de France, BnF
Role Title Holding Repository
Place Name Admin Code Country
Republic of France 00 FR
Paris A8 FR
Montbrison 84 FR
Subject
Occupation
Chemists
Activity

Person

Birth 1758-01-20

Death 1836-02-10

French

French

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