Ludwig-Friedrich Bonnet de Saint-Germain facts for kids

Ludwig-Friedrich Bonnet de Saint-Germain (born December 12, 1670 – died April 7, 1761) was a very smart and busy man from Switzerland. He worked as a doctor, a lawyer, a scholar (someone who studies a lot), and a politician. He was also a diplomat for Prussia, which means he represented his country in other nations.

Early Life and Education

Ludwig-Friedrich Bonnet was born in Geneva, Switzerland, in 1670. His family were French Protestants called Huguenots. They had to leave their home in France because of religious wars. They moved to Switzerland, where they joined a family of important German religious leaders.

Bonnet studied medicine at Leiden University, a famous school. After his studies, he and his older brother, Frédéric, decided to become diplomats. They followed in the footsteps of their uncle, Ezekiel von Spanheim, who also worked for the government of Prussia.

Working as a Diplomat

Bonnet was sent to England to work as a diplomat. In England, people knew him as Louis Frederick Bonet.

While in London, he helped other Huguenot refugees who had also fled France. He joined a group called the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge. In 1706, he earned a special law degree from the University of Oxford.

In 1711, Bonnet became a Fellow of the Royal Society. This is a very old and respected group for scientists and thinkers. He was chosen because of his knowledge and contributions. As a diplomat, he sent many reports back to Prussia about what was happening in the English government and its money matters. When his brother Frédéric passed away, Ludwig-Friedrich took over his role as Prussia's main representative in London.

Important Work and Recognition

In 1712, Bonnet was part of a special committee at the Royal Society. This committee had to decide who first invented an important math tool called calculus. There was a big argument between two famous scientists, Isaac Newton and Gottfried Leibniz. The committee decided that Newton was the first to invent it.

Awards and New Roles

In 1713, Bonnet was chosen as a member of the Prussian Academy of Sciences. This was another great honor for his knowledge. In 1715, he received a special award called the Ordre de la Générosité.

In 1714, the British throne went to a German prince, George I of Great Britain. This happened because of a law that said only a Protestant could be king or queen. In 1716, the King of Prussia, Frederick William I of Prussia, made Bonnet his special ambassador to the new British court. This was a very important job, showing how much the King trusted Bonnet.

Later Life

Bonnet returned to Switzerland in 1720. After 1739, he served on the Grand Council of the Republic of Geneva. This meant he helped make important decisions for his home city. He passed away in Geneva in 1761, at the age of 90.