Madeleine Sophie Barat was a French religious sister born in 1779 who established the Society of the Sacred Heart. Growing up in Joigny, she received an extensive education in languages and sciences from her brother, Louis, during a period of intense political upheaval in France. After living in Paris during the revolutionary era, she joined a new religious congregation in 1800. As the leader of this growing community, she oversaw the creation of an international network of educational institutions for women across several continents.