Genlis, Stéphanie-Félicité, comtesse de Genlis (1746–1830)

French writer. Her works are numerous and of historical value; they include Théâtre de l'éducation 1779–80; Mémoires inédits sur le dix-huitième siècle et la révolution française 1825; and a romance, Mademoiselle de Clermont 1802. From 1770 she was lady-in-waiting to the duchess of Chartres and governess to her children, one of whom, Louis Philippe, she lived to see become king 1830.

She continued with the education of the royal children until 1793, when she had to leave France at the start of the Reign of Terror. Her methods of education were considerably in advance of her time, involving the use of magic-lantern slides to illustrate history lessons, and teaching botany while out for walks.