Lavoisier

One of the great myths about the Catholic Church is that it is inimical to science and that the Inquisition persecuted scientists and even put them to death. The truth is rather different. Prior to the twentieth century and the purges of Stalin and Hitler, in which many sientists died, only one noted scientist was executed by Government decree. That was the great chemist Antoine de Lavoisier, a devout Catholic, who was guillotined by the Jacobins during the French Revolution

An appeal was filled to save Lavoisier's life so that he could pursue his scientific experiments. The appeal was denied by the revolutionary court on the grounds that the Revolution had no need for scientists and chemists and that justice should not be delayed. French mathematician Lagrange observed about Lavoisier's execution that it took a moment to cut off his head, but it would take a century for France to produce another like his.