Origins & Early Life

Eva Ekeblad (née De la Gardie; 10 July 1724 – 15 May 1786) was a Swedish agriculturist and salon hostess. She discovered a method to make alcohol and flour from potatoes, significantly reducing Sweden's incidence of famine. She became the first female member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences. Ekeblad was the first female member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences (1748).

Pivotal Works & Achievements

Eva Ekeblad (born Eva De la Gardie) was born on 10 July 1724 in Stockholm, Sweden, the daughter of Hedvig Catharina Lillie and Count Magnus Julius De la Gardie, a state marshal and privy councillor. Ekeblad was the tenth of fourteen children. Of her nine older siblings, only two survived childhood. Ekeblad grew up in a politically active aristocratic household. Her mother participated in politics and hosted salons attended by members of the Hats.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

Ekeblad received private instruction at home as part of an education considered appropriate to her social rank. In 1740, Eva married at the age of 16 the riksråd count Claes Claesson Ekeblad, and became the mother of seven children; one son and six daughters, Claes Julius Ekeblad (1742–1808) and Hedda Piper among them...

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