Nothing is lost, nothing is created, everything is transformed.Lavoisier's Law.
Antoine-Laurent de Lavoisier (1743 – 1794) was a French nobleman and chemist, who made significant contributions to the science of combustion, including the identification of oxygen and hydrogen, and his pioneering work on the list of elements. He is consequently considered to be the "father of modern chemistry" in popular culture.
Biography
Early life
In 1771, Lavoisier married Marie-Anne Pierrette Paulze when she was thirteen years old. She became his lab assistant and played an important role in his scientific career; notably, she translated books from English to French so her husband could further his scientific knowledge.[1]
Lavoisier was also a supporter of new philosophical ideas and a new social order, calling for the creation of social insurance and retirement funds for the elderly, the abolition of all forced work for peasants, as well as freedom of trade. In 1775, he began to serve on the Gunpowder Commission, which greatly improved the quality of France's munitions.[1]
French Revolution
Having become an ally of the Assassins at some point, Lavoisier developed a poisonous smoke bomb for the Parisian Brotherhood during the French Revolution. However, while out on a walk, Jean-Paul Marat's followers abducted him and stole the formula. Fortunately, the Assassin Arno Dorian had been alerted to Lavoisier's disappearance and managed to rescue him from his kidnappers, following which he recovered the stolen formula.[2]
Lavoisier later contacted Arno again, asking the Assassin to rescue Pierre-Simon Laplace, an astronomer and mathematician who had been placed under house arrest. Arno did as requested and managed to free Laplace from his oppressors.[3]
With Marat having accused him of selling gunpowder outside of France, Lavoisier eventually fell afoul of the radical revolutionaries and was declared a traitor by the National Convention for his former ties to the Ferme Générale, a private tax-collecting system under the monarchy. He was arrested and kept at the Maison Nationale de Sûreté until he was sentenced to death by guillotine in 1794, having been informed that "the Republic needs neither scientists nor chemists".[1]
Legacy
Following Lavoisier's death, Madame Lavoisier fought to preserve Antoine's legacy as a scientist, and compiled his notes and memoirs for publication. The Helix database credited Antoine Lavoisier as the one who could best explain the world until the arrival of Albert Einstein.[1]
Gallery
Appearances
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Assassin's Creed: Unity – Database: Antoine Lavoisier
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Unity – The Chemical Revolution
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Unity – Flying Boy