The marriage of Louis Pasteur

We bring to your attention a publication from our new column “Kunstkamera”, in which we are going to seek out different forgotten or little -known ones, while funny documents - stories - cases - facts, etc. From the history of science - and address them with the minimum commentary of For Fun to the respectable public.

Few people will argue if we call Louis Pastera one of the most ingenious scientists in history. Starting from his first steps in science, he enriched humanity with the discoveries of global significance: stereoisomerism of organic compounds (yes, Pasteur began as a chemist!)-the biological nature of fermentation (during its study, Pasteur creates the first synthetic environment for the cultivation of microorganisms, opens the anaerobic life and makes the first allegations of the economy of biochemical systems)-studies of diseases)-research Silkoplyadov (who not only saved the economy of the southern France, but also gave a powerful impetus to the development of aseptic and antiseptics in medicine by Joseph Lister and others) - the final resolution of the issue of spontaneous self -exposure of life - research of infectious agents of animals and humans (maternity leaves, Siberian ulcer, cholera of chickens and others) and the invention of vaccine proceedings against bacterial diseases, and, finally, his most famous scientific victory is the development of rabies vaccination. Behind this brief list there were purely applied studies - diseases of wine, brewing technology, the invention of pasteurization and the introduction of autoclave, etc. to those who are a little familiar with the Pasteur biography, it is known that the master of microbiology was happy in the family, but there were few information about his personal life. But thanks to the habit of people of the 19th century, to write to each other not electronic, but quite ordinary letters we can tell about the beginning of the family happiness of the great microbiologist.
On January 22, 1849, Pasteur came to Strasbourg, where he received a place of chemistry professor. Less than a month later, Pasteur writes the next letter to the rector to Auguste Laurent, whom he had only met before:

Monsieur!

The proposal, very serious for both me and your family, will be made to you in the next few days, and I find my duty to give you the following certificates so that you can decide on your consent or refusal.

My father is a tug of leather in Arbua, a small town in a crane. I have three sisters. The youngest at the age of three suffered inflammation of the brain, which stopped all development of its intelligence. Now she is like a small child in the development of the mind, being adult from the point of view of the body. We had to place her in the monastery, where she, without any doubt, will spend the rest of her life. My two other sisters help my father, replacing my mother, which we had a misfortune to lose in May last year, replacing it in his work and commerce.

My family is in the provision of secured, but without any condition. I do not think that all our property costs more than fifty thousand francs; And, before me, I have long decided to leave my sisters everything that I will get when dividing the inheritance. Thus, I personally have no condition, all my property is a good health, a good heart and my position at the university.

I finished Ekol Normal two years ago with a diploma in physics. Eighteen months ago, I received a doctoral degree, and I introduced the academy several of my works, which were very well accepted, especially the latter. I will have a very good review about her, I will have the honor to present you at the same time with this letter.

Such, Monsieur, is my current position. As for the future, then everything that I can say is that if my inclinations do not suddenly change at all, then I intend to devote my life to research in chemistry. I intend to return to Paris as soon as my research brings me a certain reputation. Monsieur Bio repeatedly told me that I could apply for a place at the institute (academy. -Prim. Transl.). About ten or fifteen years later, I can really think about it if I continue to work just as hard. In the meantime, these are just dreams carried away by the wind, and not at all they make me love science for science.

My father will personally arrive in Strasbourg to make an official proposal for marriage. Here no one knows about my request, and I assure you, Monsieur, that if you decide to refuse me, you will not only not lose respect for you, but I will also not report your refusal to anyone.

Accept, Monsieur, assurances in my sincere respect and devotion,

Louis Pasteur

I turned twenty -six years old on December 27 last year.

Although the letter does not even indicate the name of the rector’s daughter (and he had two of them), after some time he gave the pastera a formal-laconical, but ... positive answer. On May 29 of the same 1849, Pasteur married Marie Laurent. After receiving the consent of her father, Pasteur wrote a letter to Marie himself, in which he claims: “There is nothing in me that would be attractive to young girls at first glance, but when you know me better, you will certainly love me.” The scientist was not mistaken in this: in her love for her husband, Marie Pasteur even reached an understanding of his work and devoted her whole life to protect him from life worries, giving the opportunity to focus on science. Pasteur will live with Marie all his life and die in the arms of his wife on September 28, 1895.

After some time, Pasteur will refuse the lectures that he gave at the pharmaceutical faculty, and it will be replaced by another graduate of Ekol Normal, Adrien Luire, who in this way received the opportunity to work with Louis Pasteur in the laboratory. In the future, he will repeat the path of the master and marry the second daughter of the rector of Laurent - Amelie. Their son, Pasteur's nephew, will become one of his main students.

Cit. According to P. Debre. Louis Pasteur.
FlamMarion, 1994.