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Antoine Laurent Lavoisier
Antoine Laurent Lavoisier was born in Paris on the 26th of August 1743. He was schooled at Mazarin College. He enjoyed studying Math and Physical science. After school he traveled through France with Jean Guettard studying Geology. In 1765 he published a paper on improving the street lights in Paris. In the beginning of 1768 Lavoisier became a member of the Academy of Sciences. In the next year he gained a post as farmer-general of the revenue. This company collected taxes and tariffs for the government.
In 1771, Lavoisier was married to the daughter of a farmer general. She became Lavoisier collaborator because she learned how to read English. She also became a skilled draftsman and an engraver. He was appointed to the National Gunpowder Commission in 1775. He then created a laboratory for his experiments.
Lavoisier had an active role in the events before the French Revolution. He was on a committee that was concerned about the social conditions of France and proposed tax reforms and economic strategies. He served on another committee that explored the hospitals and prisons of Paris and recommends remedies for them. During the French Revolution he wrote a report on France’s capital. Lavoisier became an alternate deputy when the Estate’s General reconvened in 1789. In 1790 he was engaged in preparing the decimal system.
After the revolution started, Jean-Paul Marat and other radical journalist started to slander him for being a member of the Farmer’s General. On the 8th of May 1794 all of the Farmer’s General were arrested and thrown in jail. In a trial that lasted less than a day Lavoisier was sentenced to execution. Lavoisier requested time to complete some of his experiments and the judge said “The Republic has no need of scientist”. Lavoisier’s body was thrown into a common grave.
Between 1772 and the time of his death worked out the principles making the foundation of modern Chemistry....