Early History
1761
Marie Grosholz, later known as Madame Tussauds, was born in Strasbourg (France) on 1st December 1761.
1770
Marie becomes an apprentice with Dr Curtius and produces her first wax figure in 1778: the famous writer and philosopher Francois-Marie Arouet Voltaire.
The sister of the French king Lodewijk XVI invites Marie to become an art teacher in Versailles.
1789
Marie is called back to Paris to help Dr Curtius with reproducing the heads of guillotine victims.
1794
Dr Curtius dies and Marie inherits his exhibition.
1795
Marie marries François Tussaud, a French soldier. They have three children together: first a daughter (who sadly died shortly after birth), followed by two sons: Joseph (1798) and François (1800).
1802
Marie (together with her eldest son Joseph) leaves France and travels to England to exhibit her collection of wax figures. Her first exhibition is in the Lyceum Theatre. 33 years follow during which Marie Tussaud travels through England, Scotland and Ireland. Marie continues to produce wax figures, despite her extensive travelling.
1817
Son François leaves France to join his mother and brother.
1835
Mrs Tussaud settles in The Bazaar with her exhibition, in London’s Baker Street.
1841
Marie Tussaud produces her first self portrait (aged 80). This wax figure can be admired in Madame Tussauds Amsterdam.
1851
Madame Tussaud dies and leaves her exhibition to her two sons.
1884
The exhibition is moved to the current location of Madame Tussauds London. This happened under the careful management of Joseph Randall Tussauds, the eldest son of Marie’s son François. This same place is still home to the exhibition in England today.
