The remarkable Madame Clicquot
(1777-1866) is often considered the first businesswoman
of the modern era. Née Nicole-Barbe Ponsardin,
she was widowed in 1805 at the age of 27.
Veuve Clicquot ( Veuve means widow in French) defied every
convention of the day to take the helm of her late husband's
small Champagne house.