1. Jane Marcet was an English salonniere of Republic of Geneva descent, and an innovative writer of popular, explanatory science books.
40 Facts About Jane Marcet
1. 2.
Jane Marcet broke ground with Conversations on Political Economy, which explain the ideas of Adam Smith, Malthus and David Ricardo.
3.
Jane Marcet's studies included Latin, chemistry, biology and history, as well as topics more usual for young ladies in England.
4.
Jane Marcet took over the running of the family at age 15, after her mother's death, managing the house and helping to bring up her younger siblings.
5.
Jane Marcet acted as her father's hostess, helping to entertain frequent parties of scientific and literary guests.
6.
Jane Marcet developed an early interest in painting during a visit to Italy with her father in 1796, and studied with Joshua Reynolds and Thomas Lawrence.
7.
Jane Marcet was married in 1799 to Alexander John Gaspard Marcet, a political exile from Geneva, Switzerland who graduated from medical school at the University of Edinburgh as a physician in 1797.
8.
When Jane Marcet became interested in learning more about chemistry, they conducted experiments together in a home laboratory, discussing the scientific principles involved.
9.
Jane Marcet's children are all so fond of Dr Marcet, we see that he is their companion and friend.
10.
Jane Marcet lived with her and her husband after their marriage.
11.
When her father died in 1817, she received a substantial legacy that enabled Alexander Jane Marcet to give up his medical practice and devote himself to chemistry full-time.
12.
Jane Marcet produced expository books on chemistry, botany, religion and economics under the general title "Conversations".
13.
Jane Marcet was not explicitly identified as the author until the 12th edition of 1832.
14.
In later life, Jane Marcet wrote new works mainly for children, perhaps with her grandchildren in mind.
15.
Jane Marcet lived for the latter part of her life with a daughter, at 14 Stratton Street, Piccadilly, London.
16.
Jane Marcet's work contained few original ideas, but rested on careful study of current theories and voluminous ongoing correspondence with current scientists.
17.
Jane Marcet presented science and economics in an informal way, but her simple introductions to often complex subjects were widely appreciated by adults as well as children.
18.
Jane Marcet was uniquely qualified to popularise chemistry and economics by her contacts with many of the greatest thinkers and scientists of her day.
19.
Jane Marcet deserves much credit in the new fields of chemistry and political economy.
20.
Jane Marcet was impressed by her work on chemistry, which helped him to find a new calling for science.
21.
Jane Marcet later claimed it had played a vital role in his own career as a chemist.
22.
Jane Marcet added her own figures to explain chemistry in an easy way.
23.
Jane Marcet inspired many of the greatest chemists, scientists and Mathematicians in history.
24.
Lack of international copyright laws at the time meant that Jane Marcet did not control or receive payment for these editions.
25.
Jane Marcet was inspired by the work economists of David Ricardo, Adam Smith and many others.
26.
Jane Marcet was inspired to teach the principles of economics not by pressing them into a story, but by displaying their natural workings in selected phases of life.
27.
Jane Marcet eventually returned in London, where she again drew together prominent intellectuals and bankers.
28.
Jane Marcet did not acknowledge herself as author until 1832.
29.
When Jane Marcet published the 12th edition under her own name, it created a situation of chaos among the published books, but nothing happened in the end.
30.
Jane Marcet went on to publish several other popular works, including Conversations on Political Economy and Conversations on Plant Physiology, but none became as widely read as Conversations on Chemistry.
31.
Jane Marcet wrote to Michael Faraday in 1845, an esteemed writer and a member of the prestigious Royal Society, for detailed and expanded information on his research.
32.
Jane Marcet presented his latest breakthroughs to the woman who had first set him on his chemical journey.
33.
Jane Marcet spread knowledge by easing its creation, sharing and use.
34.
Jane Marcet created and maintained social and intellectual ties among scientists, elites, literary writers, economists and the wider public.
35.
Jane Marcet worked on the boundaries of various objects of discussion, from which knowledge flowed in all directions.
36.
Jane Marcet brought a deep perception of classical economics to bear on social questions by counterposing the "prejudices and popular feeling of uninformed benevolence".
37.
Jane Marcet kept herself distant from people with central dogmas of classical economics, but kept the conversation going with the masters of them.
38.
Jane Marcet was tough about accepting criticism, but at other times kept her directions to herself.
39.
Jane Marcet lived for the rest of her life with her daughter in Piccadilly, London.
40.
Jane Marcet died there on 28 June 1858 leaving a legacy of her works.