Jane Marcet
Encyclopedia
Jane Marcet (January 1, 1769 – June 28, 1858) was a successful writer of popular introductory science
books.
, one of twelve children of the merchant and banker Anthony Francis Haldimand (1740/41–1817) and his wife Jane (died 1785), and was tutored at home with her brothers. Her brother William Haldimand
became a director of the Bank of England and a member of Parliament. She took over the running of the family after her mother's death. She paid a visit to Italy with her father in 1796. After her marriage in 1799 to Alexander John Gaspard Marcet (1770–1822), a Swiss
exile and physician, she continued to live in London
where, through her husband, she had contact with many leading scientists. Of their four children, François Marcet (1803–1883) became a well-known physicist. She died in the house of a daughter in Piccadilly
, London in 1858.
, botany
, religion
and economics
under the general title "Conversations".
The first of these was eventually published as Conversations on Natural Philosophy in 1819, and established a common format in her works: a dialogue between two pupils, Caroline and Emily, and their teacher, Mrs Bryant. Her Conversations on Chemistry was published anonymously in 1805, and became her most popular and famous work. Summarizing and popularizing the work of Humphry Davy
, whose lectures she attended, it was one of the first elementary science textbooks. It went 16 editions in England, where it was an early inspiration for the young Michael Faraday
, and was widely plagiarized in America.
Marcet also popularized the arguments of political economists like Adam Smith
, Malthus
, and above all David Ricardo
, in her Conversations on Political Economy (1824). This was well received and widely read, although some later economists such as Alfred Marshall
were dismissive, to the detriment of its later reputation, and Joseph Schumpeter
derided it as "economics for schoolgirls". The purpose, however, was an important one that went beyond the lucrative supply of a niche market
. Mrs B's flippant pupil, Caroline, says that she would have thought a woman could be excused ignorance of that topic. Mrs B replies tartly, "When you plead in favour of ignorance, there is a strong presumption that you are in the wrong."
In later life Marcet wrote mainly for children, perhaps with her grandchildren in mind. Mary's Grammar (1835) became a classic. Marcet was a friend of the novelist Maria Edgeworth
, who described their home, with lively, intelligent children and a welcome for visitors. Marcet's Conversations on Political Economy were an inspiration to Harriet Martineau
to introduce economic topics into her writings.
When Henry James
wrote The Turn of the Screw
in 1898, Marcet was still a standard textbook. The governess refers off-handedly to a text:
Science
Science is a systematic enterprise that builds and organizes knowledge in the form of testable explanations and predictions about the universe...
books.
Life
She was born in LondonLondon
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, one of twelve children of the merchant and banker Anthony Francis Haldimand (1740/41–1817) and his wife Jane (died 1785), and was tutored at home with her brothers. Her brother William Haldimand
William Haldimand
William Haldimand was an English philanthropist, director of the Bank of England, and Member of Parliament. He was the sister of Jane Marcet, a popular writer on science and economics.-References:*...
became a director of the Bank of England and a member of Parliament. She took over the running of the family after her mother's death. She paid a visit to Italy with her father in 1796. After her marriage in 1799 to Alexander John Gaspard Marcet (1770–1822), a Swiss
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
exile and physician, she continued to live in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
where, through her husband, she had contact with many leading scientists. Of their four children, François Marcet (1803–1883) became a well-known physicist. She died in the house of a daughter in Piccadilly
Piccadilly
Piccadilly is a major street in central London, running from Hyde Park Corner in the west to Piccadilly Circus in the east. It is completely within the city of Westminster. The street is part of the A4 road, London's second most important western artery. St...
, London in 1858.
"Conversations"
After helping to read the proofs of one of her husband's books, Marcet decided to write her own, and produced expository books on chemistryChemistry
Chemistry is the science of matter, especially its chemical reactions, but also its composition, structure and properties. Chemistry is concerned with atoms and their interactions with other atoms, and particularly with the properties of chemical bonds....
, botany
Botany
Botany, plant science, or plant biology is a branch of biology that involves the scientific study of plant life. Traditionally, botany also included the study of fungi, algae and viruses...
, religion
Religion
Religion is a collection of cultural systems, belief systems, and worldviews that establishes symbols that relate humanity to spirituality and, sometimes, to moral values. Many religions have narratives, symbols, traditions and sacred histories that are intended to give meaning to life or to...
and economics
Economics
Economics is the social science that analyzes the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services. The term economics comes from the Ancient Greek from + , hence "rules of the house"...
under the general title "Conversations".
The first of these was eventually published as Conversations on Natural Philosophy in 1819, and established a common format in her works: a dialogue between two pupils, Caroline and Emily, and their teacher, Mrs Bryant. Her Conversations on Chemistry was published anonymously in 1805, and became her most popular and famous work. Summarizing and popularizing the work of Humphry Davy
Humphry Davy
Sir Humphry Davy, 1st Baronet FRS MRIA was a British chemist and inventor. He is probably best remembered today for his discoveries of several alkali and alkaline earth metals, as well as contributions to the discoveries of the elemental nature of chlorine and iodine...
, whose lectures she attended, it was one of the first elementary science textbooks. It went 16 editions in England, where it was an early inspiration for the young Michael Faraday
Michael Faraday
Michael Faraday, FRS was an English chemist and physicist who contributed to the fields of electromagnetism and electrochemistry....
, and was widely plagiarized in America.
Marcet also popularized the arguments of political economists like Adam Smith
Adam Smith
Adam Smith was a Scottish social philosopher and a pioneer of political economy. One of the key figures of the Scottish Enlightenment, Smith is the author of The Theory of Moral Sentiments and An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations...
, Malthus
Thomas Malthus
The Reverend Thomas Robert Malthus FRS was an English scholar, influential in political economy and demography. Malthus popularized the economic theory of rent....
, and above all David Ricardo
David Ricardo
David Ricardo was an English political economist, often credited with systematising economics, and was one of the most influential of the classical economists, along with Thomas Malthus, Adam Smith, and John Stuart Mill. He was also a member of Parliament, businessman, financier and speculator,...
, in her Conversations on Political Economy (1824). This was well received and widely read, although some later economists such as Alfred Marshall
Alfred Marshall
Alfred Marshall was an Englishman and one of the most influential economists of his time. His book, Principles of Economics , was the dominant economic textbook in England for many years...
were dismissive, to the detriment of its later reputation, and Joseph Schumpeter
Joseph Schumpeter
Joseph Alois Schumpeter was an Austrian-Hungarian-American economist and political scientist. He popularized the term "creative destruction" in economics.-Life:...
derided it as "economics for schoolgirls". The purpose, however, was an important one that went beyond the lucrative supply of a niche market
Niche market
A niche market is the subset of the market on which a specific product is focusing; therefore the market niche defines the specific product features aimed at satisfying specific market needs, as well as the price range, production quality and the demographics that is intended to impact...
. Mrs B's flippant pupil, Caroline, says that she would have thought a woman could be excused ignorance of that topic. Mrs B replies tartly, "When you plead in favour of ignorance, there is a strong presumption that you are in the wrong."
In later life Marcet wrote mainly for children, perhaps with her grandchildren in mind. Mary's Grammar (1835) became a classic. Marcet was a friend of the novelist Maria Edgeworth
Maria Edgeworth
Maria Edgeworth was a prolific Anglo-Irish writer of adults' and children's literature. She was one of the first realist writers in children's literature and was a significant figure in the evolution of the novel in Europe...
, who described their home, with lively, intelligent children and a welcome for visitors. Marcet's Conversations on Political Economy were an inspiration to Harriet Martineau
Harriet Martineau
Harriet Martineau was an English social theorist and Whig writer, often cited as the first female sociologist....
to introduce economic topics into her writings.
Legacy
Marcet's works contained few original ideas and presented science and economics in an informal way, but her simple introductions to often complex subjects were widely appreciated, by adults as well as the children for whom they were intended, and most importantly by women, who were not encouraged to explore the experimental sciences at that time. She was uniquely qualified to play that role by her contacts with many of the greatest thinkers and scientists of her day.When Henry James
Henry James
Henry James, OM was an American-born writer, regarded as one of the key figures of 19th-century literary realism. He was the son of Henry James, Sr., a clergyman, and the brother of philosopher and psychologist William James and diarist Alice James....
wrote The Turn of the Screw
The Turn of the Screw
The Turn of the Screw is a novella written by Henry James. Originally published in 1898, it is ostensibly a ghost story.Due to its ambiguous content, it became a favourite text of academics who subscribe to New Criticism. The novella has had differing interpretations, often mutually exclusive...
in 1898, Marcet was still a standard textbook. The governess refers off-handedly to a text:
-
- ". . . as impersonal as Mrs. Marcet or nine-times-nine."
Further reading
- Conversations on Chemistry by Jane Marcet 10th ed 1825
- Brief Biography - From the Library of Economics and Liberty
- Drawing of Jane Marcet and illustrations from her books (Edgar Fahs SmithEdgar Fahs SmithEdgar Fahs Smith was an American scientist who is best known today for his interests in the history of chemistry...
Collection)