Editing Augustin-Jean Fresnel (section)

=== Family ===

Augustin-Jean Fresnel (also called Augustin Jean or simply Augustin), born in Broglie, [[Normandy]], on 10 May 1788, was the second of four sons of the architect Jacques Fresnel{{r|favre}} and his wife Augustine, ''née'' Mérimée.{{r|jeanelie}} The family moved twice—in 1789/90 to [[Cherbourg-Octeville|Cherbourg]],<ref>Levitt (2013, p.&nbsp;23) says "in 1790". Silliman (1967, p.&nbsp;7) says "by 1790". Boutry (1948, p.&nbsp;590) says the family left Broglie in 1789.</ref> and in 1794{{hsp}}<ref name=silliman-p166>Silliman, 2008, p.&nbsp;166.</ref> to Jacques's home town of [[Mathieu, Calvados|Mathieu]], where Augustine would spend 25 years as a widow,<ref>Boutry, 1948, p.&nbsp;590.</ref> outliving two of her sons.

The first son, Louis, was admitted to the [[École Polytechnique]], became a lieutenant in the artillery, and was killed in action at [[Jaca]], Spain.{{r|jeanelie}} The third, Léonor,{{r|favre}} followed Augustin into civil [[engineer]]ing, succeeded him as secretary of the Lighthouse Commission,<ref>Levitt, 2013, p.&nbsp;99.</ref> and helped to edit his collected works.<ref>Fresnel, 1866–70.</ref> The fourth, [[Fulgence Fresnel]], became a linguist, diplomat, and orientalist, and occasionally assisted Augustin with negotiations.<ref>Levitt, 2013, p.&nbsp;72.</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite book|last=Pillet|first=Maurice (1881–1964)|url=https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k5730001x|title=L'expédition scientifique et artistique de Mésopotamie et de Médie, 1851–1855|date=1922|publisher=Libraire Ancienne Honoré Champion |location=Accessed from Gallica – Bibliothèque nationale de France|language=FR}}</ref>  Fulgence died in Bagdad in 1855 having led a mission to explore Babylon.<ref name=":0" />

Madame Fresnel's younger brother, [[Jean François "Léonor" Mérimée]],{{r|jeanelie}} father of the writer [[Prosper Mérimée]], was a [[painter]] who turned his attention to the [[chemistry]] of painting. He became the Permanent Secretary of the [[École des Beaux-Arts]] and (until 1814) a professor at the École Polytechnique,<ref>Levitt, 2009, p.&nbsp;49.</ref> and was the initial point of contact between Augustin and the leading optical physicists of the day {{crossreference|(see [[#Rêveries|below]])}}.