As a girl, Mary Somerville was barely educated. She taught herself algebra and geometry in secret, studying at night until her parents took away her candles. Later, free to study, she translated and explained Laplace's great work on astronomy, which made her famous in 1831. In 1835 she and Caroline Herschel became the first women members of the Royal Astronomical Society. Her books showed how all the sciences connect.
Mary Somerville
Self-Taught Scientist
EXTRA-ORDINARY TRAIT
FOCUS
JFDI PILLAR
F — FOCUS
COUNTRY & REGION
Scotland (UK & Ireland)
LIFESPAN
1780 – 1872
GENDER
Woman
EDITION
No.041
✦ DEFINING MOMENT
At a telescope under a night sky, lamp lighting her face, notebook in hand.
✦ ARCHIVAL DOSSIER
The Story
✦ DID YOU KNOW?
The word "scientist" was coined in 1834 in a review of her book, partly because "man of science" didn't fit her.
✦ YOUR TURN
What would you learn by candlelight if someone tried to stop you?