Madame CurieMaria Salomea Sklodowska was born on November 7, 1867 in Warsaw, Poland. She is the youngest of five; Bronislawa, Zosia, Jozef and Helena. Her parents, Wladyslaw and Bronislawa, were educators who persuaded Maria and her siblings to continue their studies. Her mother was the principal of a local girls' school and her father a physics teacher. In 1876 Bronislawa and Zosia contracted typhoid fever, which consequently caused Zosia's death at the age of 14. In a subsequent death, in May 1878, Maria's mother died. At the age of ten, Maria began attending J. Sikorska's boarding school. Two years younger than her students, Maria entered the third grade. However, this did not stop Maria's brilliance; he graduated on June 12, 1883 at the top of his class, with a gold medal. After graduation, Maria sought higher education, to attend university. During this time, however, women were not allowed to enter the University of Warsaw, and although Maria's family had no money to pay for tuition on board, Maria and her sister Bronislawa came up with a plan. At the age of 17, Maria left her home as expected, and became a governess outside Warsaw. According to the plan, Maria would save her money for about two years, sending it to her sister Bronislawa and for her medical studies in Paris. After those two-three years, Maria would then attend a university to pursue a career in chemistry. In her position as housekeeper, she fell in love with the eldest of the family, a university student, Kazimierz Zorawski. However, the family opposed their love for each other, Kazimierz listened to his family and rejected Maria. Despite the embarrassment within the family, Mary remained until she fulfilled her commitment to the end of 1891.Mar...... middle of paper ......in the United States in 1921 where President Warren G. Harding gave her a gram of radium collected in the United States. The following year, Marie became a member of the International Commission on Intellectual Cooperation of the League of Nations. In 1923 Marie wrote a biography of her husband; and six years later, in 1929, Marie went on her second American tour. Finally, in 1930, Marie was elected to the International Atomic Weights Committee where she served until her death. Four years later, Marie made her last trip to Poland. On 4 July 1934 Maria Salomea Sklodowska died at Sancellemoz Santorum in Haute-Savoie due to aplastic anemia; which is believed to be caused by long-term exposure to radiation. Of course, during the time Marie lived, the risk of radiation exposure was unknown and no safety measures were taken.