Clémence Lortet

Clémence Lortet (17 September 1772 – 15 April 1835) (née Richard) was a French botanist and naturalist. In 1823, she became an associate of the Linnean Society of Paris, and with Giovanni Balbis and others, co-founded the Linnean Society of Lyon.

Life and work

As the daughter of Pierre Richard (1741–1815), silk dyer, and Jeanne Gondret (1750–1826), she was introduced to science very early by her father. In 1791, she married Jean-Pierre Lortet (1756–1823) and they had a son, Pierre Lortet (1792–1868).

Family Her son was the physician Pierre Lortet and his son was the physician and botanist Louis Lortet (1836–1909).

Taxa L'Hieracium lortetiae (Asteraceae in the Flore lyonnaise) was found in Pilat by Clémence Lortet The genus Lortetia Ser., 1847 (Passifloraceae) was created by Nicolas Charles Seringe, in memory of Clémence Lortet

Honors The municipal library of the 6th arrondissement of Lyon, which is part of the Municipal Library network of Lyon, has borne her name since 2017.