Émilie du Châtelet
From Biocrawler, the free encyclopedia.
Gabrielle Émilie Le Tonnelier de Breteuil, Marquise du Châtelet-Laumont (December 17, 1706 - September 10, 1749) was a French mathematician, physicist and author.
Early Life
Émilie was born to a wealthy family in Paris. Her father was Louis Nicolas Le Tonnelier de Breteuil, the Baron de Breteuil, who was the Principal Secretary and Introducer of Ambassadors to Louis XIV. His position made him the center of scoial activity in the court, and thus gave the family great status. Her mother, Gabrielle Anne de Froulay, was brought up in a convent.
Émilie was rather awkward, so she was given lessons in fencing, riding and gymnastics in an attempt to improve her awkwardness. She was remarkably well educated for the time, and by the age of twelve she was fluent in Latin, Italian, French, Greek, and German. She received education in mathematics, literature, and even science as well. She also liked to dance, was a passable performer on the harpsichord, sang opera, and was an amateur actress.
Marriage and her life with Voltaire
She was married on 20 June 1725 to the Marquis Florent-Claude Chastellet, and thus became Émilie du Chastellet (The spelling "Châtelet" was introduced by Voltaire and has now become standard). He was a military man who was made governor of Semur-en-Auxois in Burgundy. The marriage was arranged, and they had little in common, but did not openly fight often. Emilie had three children and considered her marital responsibility completed. They agreed to live separate lives. In the upper classes of France at the time, it was standard for both the husband and wife to have a lover.
Emilie had three love affairs before she met Voltaire. At age 24, she had an affair with the Duc de Richelieu that lasted for a year and a half. The Duc was interested in literature and philosophy, and Emilie was one of the few women who could converse with him on his own level. Emilie read every book of consequence, attended the theater regularly, and enjoyed intellectual debate. Emilie expressed an interest in Isaac Newton and Richelieu encouraged her to take lessons in higher mathematics to better understand his theories.
Moreau de Maupertuis, a member of the Academy of Sciences, became Emilie's tutor in geometry. He was a mathematician, astronomer and physicist, and supported Newton's theories that were the topic of hot debate at the Academy.fr:Émilie du Châtelet
Categories: 1706 births | 1749 deaths | French nobility | French mathematicians | French scientists | Women mathematicians
