Mary Somerville, Queen of 19th Century Science (2016)
Mary Somerville, a pioneering 19th-century scientist and writer, published influential works, including a translation of Laplace’s Mécanique céleste, and challenged gender norms in science despite societal obstacles.
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Mary Somerville, who lived from 1780 to 1872, is recognized as one of the first women scientists and science writers, earning the title "Queen of 19th Century Science" posthumously. Despite societal norms that discouraged women's education, Somerville pursued mathematics and published significant scientific works, including a paper on the magnetizing effects of light in 1826 and a successful translation of Pierre-Simon Laplace’s Mécanique céleste in 1831. The term "scientist" was coined in 1834 in a review of her work, Connexion. Throughout her life, Somerville contributed to science journalism, with her book On the Connexion of the Physical Sciences being widely influential. She continued to write until late in her life, producing a two-volume work on molecular and microscopic science at age 89. Somerville collaborated with male scientists and was recognized for her contributions despite the prevailing Victorian attitudes towards women in science. After her death, debates arose regarding her status as a scientist versus a writer, highlighting her dual role in the scientific community. Her legacy is marked by her significant contributions to science and her role in challenging gender norms of her time.
- Mary Somerville was a pioneering woman in science and science writing in the 19th century.
- She published influential works, including a translation of Laplace’s Mécanique céleste.
- The term "scientist" was first used in a review of her work in 1834.
- Somerville faced societal challenges but collaborated with male scientists throughout her career.
- Her legacy continues to inspire discussions about women's roles in science.
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