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She was the daughter of banker and French finance minister Jacques Necker and Suzanne Curchod , a respected salonist and writer. Throughout her life, she held a moderate stance during the tumultuous periods of the French Revolution and the Napoleonic era , persisting until the time of the French Restoration.

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Her presence at critical events such as the Estates General of and the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen underscored her engagement in the political discourse of her time. She claimed to have discerned the tyrannical nature and ambitions of his rule ahead of many others. During her exile, she fostered the Coppet group , a network that spanned across Europe, positioning herself at its heart.

Her literary works, emphasizing individuality and passion, left an enduring imprint on European intellectual thought.

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While her literary legacy has somewhat faded with time, her critical and historical contributions hold undeniable significance. Though her novels and plays may now be less remembered, the value of her analytical and historical writings remains steadfast. Germaine or Minette was the only child of the Swiss governess Suzanne Curchod , who had an aptitude for mathematics and science, and prominent Genevan banker and statesman Jacques Necker.

Even at a young age, Germaine engaged in stimulating conversations with her mother's guests. Her father "is remembered today for taking the unprecedented step in of making public the country's budget , a novelty in an absolute monarchy where the state of the national finances had always been kept secret, leading to his dismissal by the King in May of that year.

The family returned to the Paris region in Aged 11, Germaine had suggested to her mother that she marry Edward Gibbon , a visitor to her salon, whom she found most attractive. Then, she reasoned, he would always be around for her. The wedding took place on 14 January in the Swedish embassy at 97, Rue du Bac ; Germaine was 19, and her husband