Jane marcet biography
- Jane Marcet was an English salonnière of Republic of Geneva descent, and an innovative writer of popular, explanatory science books.
- Jane Marcet (baptized June 23, 1769, London, England—died June 28, 1858, London) was an English writer known for her accessible educational.
- Marcet (1769–1858), an influential science writer, taught chemistry lessons through fictional conversations between a teacher and her two female students.
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Jane Marcet
*January 1, 1769 (London, United Kingdom)
†Juni 28, 1858 (London, United Kingdom)
Jane Marcet was a British author and educationalist who played an important role in popularizing science education and advocating for women’s rights. She was born Jane Haldimand in London, England, to Swiss parents. Her family was well-connected, and she received a good education at home, studying French, German, and Italian, as well as mathematics, natural philosophy, and chemistry.
In 1799, she married Alexander Marcet, a Swiss physician and chemist, and the couple moved to Geneva, Switzerland, where they became involved in the city’s intellectual and scientific circles. In Geneva, Marcet began to write and publish educational works, including “Conversations on Political Economy,” which was based on her discussions with leading economists of the time.
Marcet was also involved in social and political causes, particularly advocating for the education and rights of women. She was a founding member of the Ladies’ Literary Society in London, which pr
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Jane Haldimand Marcet, 1769-1858
If political economy was the "rage" in social circles in the early 19th Century, it was in good part due to the wildly popular 1816 work of Jane Haldimond Marcet. Educated by tutors in her father's home, Jane Haldimand Marcet's primary interest was botany and chemistry, an interest encouraged by her husband (a doctor and chemistry professor in Geneva, Switzerland). In 1806, Marcet published her first book, a popular exposition of the principles of chemistry which influenced the great chemist Michael Faraday.
The success of her first book led her to try the same approach to political economy in 1816 with her Conversations on Political Economy. Marcet presented Classical economic theory in terms of conversation between a pupil, Caroline, and her tutor, Mrs. B. Drawing heavily on Adam Smith, Jean-Baptiste Say, Robert Malthus and David Ricardo (whom she knew personally), Marcet's Conversations were a non-critical exposition of the principles of Classical political economy, intended largely
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Special Collections
Jane Marcet was an unusual woman. She believed that girls as well as boys should be educated in science and economics and that scientific knowledge should not be hidden behind a requirement for proficiency in Latin and Greek. She loved to learn and was keen to share her enjoyment of learning with others. When she was unable to find books that satisfied her own curiosity, she wrote them herself.
Jane Marcet the hostess
Born in 1769, Jane was educated alongside her brothers under the guidance of her father Francis Haldimand, a rich Swiss merchant established in London. The household was a lively one, often gathering groups of friends and intellectuals. After her mother’s death, Jane took on the role of hostess and relished the stimulating and intelligent company of her father’s friends. In 1799 Jane married medical doctor and chemist Alexander Marcet. Jane’s father lived with the couple and their growing family, and the culture of gathering for conversation and learning continued.
Jane Marcet the student
It is clear that Jane was a sponge for kno