The Republic needs neither scientists nor chemists

Lavoisier, a great scientist, was beheaded (guillotined) at the height of the French Revolution. An appeal to spare Lavoisier’s life so that he could continue his experiments was cut short by the judge: "The Republic needs neither scientists nor chemists; the course of justice can not be delayed.

It took them only an instant to cut off his head!

Lavoisier was convicted and guillotined on 8 May in Paris, at the age of 50. Lavoisier's importance to science was expressed by Lagrange who lamented the beheading by saying: "It took them only an instant to cut off his head, but France may not produce another like it in a century.”

"To the widow of Lavoisier, who was falsely convicted"

Lavoisier was beheaded at the height of the French Revolution. One and a half years after his execution, he was exonerated by the French government. When his private belongings were delivered to his widow, a brief note was included reading "To the widow of Lavoisier, who was falsely convicted."

The statue of Lavoisier with another person's head

About a century after the execution of Lavoisier, a statue was erected in Paris. It was later discovered that the sculptor had not actually copied Lavoisier's head for the statue, but used a spare head of the Marquis de Condorcet, the Secretary of the Academy of Sciences.