# A Cyclopaedia of Female Biography/Chatelet, Gabrielle Emilie de Bretrueil Marquise du

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CHATELET, GABRIELLE EMILIE DE BRETRUEIL MARQUISE DU,
One of the most remarkable women of her time, is chiefly known through her connexion with Voltaire. Her parents married her in her nineteenth year to the Marquis du Chatelet, an honest but common-place man considerably her senior. The young marchioness made her appearance in the world with great eclat. She was graceful, handsome, and fond of pleasure; but her great talents long remained unsuspected. Madame du Chatelet's ideas of morality were those of her time, and she early exhibited them by an intrigue with the Duke of Richelieu, then celebrated for his gallantry. This connexion, however, was brief, and resulted in a sincere and lasting friendship. Madame du Chatelet's mind was superior to a life of mere worldly pleasure. Wearied of dissipation, she entered with ardour into the study of the exact sciences. Maupertius was her instructor in geometry, and the works of Newton and Leibnitz became her constant study. Geometry was then the rage, but Madame du Chatelet brought to the study of this science a mind strikingly adapted to its pursuit; and it was while thus devoting herself that she became acquainted with Voltaire. Madame du Chatelet was in her twenty-eighth year, and Voltaire twelve years her senior, when their liason commenced. The loose maxims of the period justified this connexion in the opinion of the world, and in their own; and the husband either did not suspect the truth, or if he did, felt indifferent to it. As he passed the greater part of his time with his regiment, he proved little or no restraint to ​the lovers, raising no objection to the sojourn of Voltaire beneath his roof, but rather appearing flattered at being considered the host and patron of a man already enjoying European fame. Voltaire passed fifteen years at Cizey, the splendid chateau of M. du Chatelet, in Lorraine, His life in this delightful retreat was one of study, varied by elegant pleasures, embellished and exalted by the devotion of this gifted woman.
With Madame du Chatelet study was a passion. She slept but three hours out of the twenty-four, and her whole time was devoted to her beloved pursuits. During the day she remained closeted in her apartments, seldom appearing till the hour of supper. Every year they visited Paris, where Madame du Chatelet entered into the pursuit of pleasure with the same passionate eagerness with which she studied Newton's "Principia" in her learned retirement; losing large sums at play, and conunitting many extravagances in her love of dress.
Madame du Chatelet was remarkable for great simplicity of manner, as well as for the solidity of her judgment. Few women of her time were so free from that intriguing spirit and thirst for distinction which almost all then possessed. Science she loved for its own sake; for the pure and exquisite delight it yielded her enquiring mind, and not for the paltry gratification of being learned. On the other hand, she was deficient in gentleness, and in many of the most winning qualities of woman. Proud of her rank and birth, haughty to her inferiors, and violent and imperious in her temper, she ruled despotically over her lover, and left him very little personal freedom.
Long as the love of Voltaire and Madame du Chatelet had lasted, it was not destined to resist time and habit. The change first came from Voltaire, whose declining years he made the excuse for increasing coldness. After many stormy explanations, Madame du Chatelet submitted to this change in his feelings, which caused none in their mode of life, and accepted friendship for love.
Soon after the change in their relations, Madame du Chatelet became acquainted with St. Lambert, known then merely as a handsome young nobleman of elegant address. Vanity induced St. Lambert to pay her attentions which Madame du Chatelet attributed to a deeper feeling, and which she was frail enough to return by a very sincere affection. Voltaire was both grieved and indignant on discovering that he had a rival, but Madame du Chatelet's assurances of unabated friendship, though she concealed nothing from him, reconciled and induced him to remain near her.
There is little to excuse this part of Madame du Chatelet's life. Her age and self-respect ought to have preserved her from this last error, with which were connected many disgraceful circumstances, and which was destined to prove fatal to her. She died in childbed on the 10th. of August, 1749, her last days being devoted to the translation of Newton's "Principia," her great work.