PARIS, September 28, 1895—France today mourned the loss of one of its greatest sons, Louis Pasteur, the pioneering chemist and microbiologist, who passed away yesterday at the age of 72 at his estate in Villeneuve-l'Étang, near Paris. In recognition of his revolutionary contributions to science and public health—discoveries credited with saving millions of lives worldwide—the Government has declared a National Funeral.
The entire nation and the international scientific community are in profound grief. Tributes are pouring in from heads of state, learned societies, and ordinary citizens, all recognizing the immense debt owed to the man who gave the world pasteurization, the germ theory of disease, and the life-saving vaccines for rabies and anthrax.
A Hero’s Farewell
The funeral service is scheduled to take place at the majestic Cathedral of Notre Dame following a public lying-in-state at the Pasteur Institute . This grand gesture is a testament to Pasteur's transformation from a humble scientist to a figure of national apotheosis.
Before the service, the coffin will be transported in a solemn and spectacular procession from the Institute to Notre Dame. It will be escorted by a battalion of the Garde Republicaine with full military honors, traversing streets lined with solemn spectators. Dignitaries, including the President, Ministers of State, and representatives from the French Academies and international scientific bodies, will form the official cortège.
Initial reports from the funeral procession note the deep respect of the Parisian public, though the immense crowds seen at previous national funerals (such as Victor Hugo’s) were not replicated, perhaps reflecting the difference between a literary titan and a scientific one. Nevertheless, the atmosphere is one of profound veneration for a man whose work touches nearly every household.
Universal Acclaim and Lasting Legacy
Newspaper columns today are filled with warm and glowing tributes. The consensus is that Pasteur's impress on the 19th century—through ideas and services that are tangible and accessible to all—is indelible. One prominent chemist noted that Pasteur, alongside figures like Victor Hugo, stands as one of the great luminaries who has cast the greatest lustre on our time.
Public Gratitude: The public reaction is overwhelmingly one of gratitude for the alleviation of suffering and the extension of life his work has brought, especially the dramatic success of the rabies vaccine.
Scientific Tributes: Scientists praise his rigorous methodology, which overturned the long-standing theory of spontaneous generation and established the foundations of modern bacteriology.
The Pantheon Question: There are reports that the Government offered to inter his remains in the Panthéon, the final resting place of French national heroes. However, the family has reportedly deferred acceptance, preferring for the moment that the body be laid to rest in a private vault at the Institute he founded—a permanent symbol of his dedication to science.
Louis Pasteur leaves behind a legacy that has fundamentally transformed medicine, hygiene, agriculture, and industry. The world is immeasurably safer and healthier because of his relentless pursuit of knowledge. He will be remembered not only as a great Frenchman but as a benefactor of all mankind.
