Pierre Curie was the love of Marie’s life and her partner in science. They met in 1894 when Marie Curie worked in Pierre curie’s lab; they were married the following year.   

“Pierre had dedicated his life to his dream of science: he felt the need of a companion who could live his dream with him.” – Marie Curie

*Originally when Pierre proposed marriage Marie did not accept because she was still planning to return to Poland (she did not realize she would be denied a place at Krakow University because she was a woman) and Pierre declared that he was ready to move to Poland to be with her even if it meant he was to be reduced to teaching French.

The couple had two daughters, Irene and Eve, and a few years after they married Pierre Curie abandoned his own research to join his wife’s study of radioactivity.

* In 1903 when the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences intended to honour Pierre Curie and Henri Becquerel with the Nobel Prize, Pierre spoke up and Marie’s name was added to the nomination- making her the first woman to win a Nobel Prize.

Nobelprize.org/womenwhochangedscience/stories/marie-curie