Born: 7 August 1735, France
Died: 4 October 1820
Country most active: France
Also known as: Claudine Poullet, Claudine Guyton de Morveau
The following bio was written by Emma Rosen, author of On This Day She Made History: 366 Days With Women Who Shaped the World and This Day In Human Ingenuity & Discovery: 366 Days of Scientific Milestones with Women in the Spotlight, and has been republished with permission.
Claudine Picardet was notable in chemistry, mineralogy, and meteorology during the late 18th century. Claudine Picardet excelled as a scientific translator, converting works from Swedish, English, German, and Italian into French. Her translations, covering books and manuscripts, united diverse scientific knowledge.
In addition to her translation work, Picardet hosted influential gatherings in Dijon and Paris, fostering intellectual exchange among scientific and literary circles. She also actively collected meteorological data, contributing significantly to the field.
Her impact extended to establishing Dijon and Paris as scientific hubs during the pivotal era of the chemical revolution. Claudine Picardet’s contributions endure as a testament to her lasting influence on science, literature, and intellectual discourse.