Antoine-Laurent Lavoisier was born on Aug. 26, 1743. He grew up the oldest child in his family in Paris, France, and a product of the bourgeoisie lifestyle. His father was a well-off attorney who followed the family tradition of practicing law. Antoine's mother died when he was just a boy, but his aunt came to help raise him and his younger siblings. Between 1754 and 1761, he was educated at the Collège Mazarin where he studied mathematics, astronomy, chemistry, and botany. From there, he was pushed into the field of law, and earned his degree. However, this career didn't interest him a great deal. He was more fascinated with sciences, especially, geology. Coming from his background, he had already gained entrance into the leading intellectual circles of the day and had been exposed to a great variety of scientific pursuits by the time he started his scientific career. A good friend of the family, Jean-Étienne Guettard, was a brilliant geologist and botanist, as well as being one of Lavoisier's main influences to join the study of science. Another great teacher of his was Guillaume François Rouelle, his chemistry teacher. Both of these men were members of the Académie Royale des Sciences, or Royal Academy of Science.
             Lavoisier's first essay was about the mineral gypsum and the settling process of plaster of paris. This experiment showed off one on his strengths as a chemist, accurate measurement. Although a few scientists had earlier paid careful attention to measurement, it was Lavoisier who convinced the majority of chemists that accurate measurements are essential to experimental success and scientific progress. In 1768, Lavoisier was elected to the Royal Academy of Science. The same year, he entered the Ferme Générale, a private firm that collected certain taxes for the government. At the time, scientists were not very well paid, so in order to afford his expens...