Marie Angélique de Vandeul (1753–1824)

Marie-Angélique was born in Paris and was the only surviving child of French philosopher Denis Diderot and his wife Antoinette Champion. In 1772, she married Abel-François Caroillon de Vandeul. She compiled four volumes of biographical sketches, memoirs, letters, and works of her father published in 1830-1831. They were eventually combined into one volume, Diderot, mon père (1992). Madame de Vandeul's efforts helped show Diderot as a loving father devoted to his family, funny and affectionate, in contrast to the usual public image of the austere philosopher, scrapping against religion and nobility for his progressive ideas.