Born: 19 October 1909, France
Died: 13 May 1975
Country most active: France
Also known as: NA
The following bio was written by Emma Rosen, author of On This Day She Made History: 366 Days With Women Who Shaped the World and This Day In Human Ingenuity & Discovery: 366 Days of Scientific Milestones with Women in the Spotlight, and has been republished with permission.
Marguerite Catherine Perey was a prominent French physicist known for her pioneering work in radiochemistry. She studied under Marie Curie and honed her skills in isolating and purifying radioactive elements, particularly actinium, which had been discovered by André-Louis Debierne in Curie’s lab in 1899. In 1935, Perey investigated the emission of beta particles from actinium and uncovered that it decayed into a new element, which she named francium. This groundbreaking discovery was presented in 1939, despite her being a laboratory assistant at the time. Perey’s scientific journey continued as she earned a Doctorate of Physics, held key roles in nuclear chemistry, and founded a laboratory dedicated to nuclear research. Unfortunately, despite being nominated for the Nobel Prize multiple times, her contributions went unrecognized, largely due to concerns about francium’s carcinogenic properties. She passed away in 1975, leaving a lasting legacy advocating for radiation safety.