Lambert, Anne Thérèse de Marguenat de Courcelles, Marquise de (1647–1733)

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Lambert, Anne Thérèse de Marguenat de Courcelles, Marquise de (1647–1733)

French salonnière. Name variations: Marquise de Lambert. Born in Paris, France, 1647; died 1733; stepdau. of Bachaumont.

A rich widow, opened her salon (1710), which was called the "antechamber of the Academy" since she personally selected half of the Academy's members (though her writings, chiefly on education, were produced for her children, they were read by a much larger audience); was also responsible for the substitution of French scientific formulas for Latin ones: Fontenelle facilitated this change in order that Lambert might be able to read his scientific treatises. Her salon in the Palais Mazarin was considered the bridge between 17th-century and 18th-century institutions.

See also Women in World History.

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