Women of Science

Mary Somerville was a prominent figure in nineteenth-century science. She was a Scottish woman who defied societal norms to become a renowned mathematician, astronomer, and science writer. Her contributions to mathematics, particularly in algebra and physical astronomy, where she made significant advancements in celestial mechanics, were not just groundbreaking. Still, they also significantly impacted and reshaped the scientific community of her time.

Born in 1780 in Jedburgh, Scotland, Somerville overcame numerous obstacles to pursue her passion for science and ultimately became one of the most respected scientists of her era.

As a child, Mary Somerville had a minimal education. Her mother taught her to read (but not write). When she was 10 years old, she attended a boarding school for girls for one year in Musselburgh, Scotland. Upon her return home, she began to educate herself from the family library. She was encouraged only by her uncle, Thomas Somerville, who not only helped her with Latin but also fostered her love for science and mathematics.

In 1804, she married a cousin, Samuel Greig, a Russian navy captain and the Russian consul in London. She continued to study mathematics, but, as she later wrote, “Although my husband did not prevent me from studying, I met with no sympathy whatever from him, as he had a shallow opinion of the capacity of my sex.” After Samuel died in 1807, she had the freedom to dedicate herself to her mathematical studies. Mary was married again in 1812 to another cousin, William Somerville, who took pride in his wife’s educational accomplishments.

She began to study botany and geology. In 1816, the Somervilles moved to London, where they became friends with such eminent scientists as astronomers Sir William Herschel and Caroline Herschel, metallurgist William Hyde Wollaston, physicist Thomas Young, and mathematician Charles Babbage, who showed the Somervilles the mechanical calculators he was making.

On a trip to Europe in 1817, Somerville met French physicist François Arago and French mathematician Pierre-Simon Laplace. She published her first scientific paper, “On the Magnetizing Power of the More Refrangible Solar Rays,” in 1826.

In 1826, she published her first major work, ‘The Mechanism of the Heavens,’ which explored the theories of Laplace and other leading scientists. The book, a comprehensive study of celestial mechanics, was well-received and established Somerville as a respected authority in the field.

Somerville’s second book, The Connection of the Physical Sciences (1834), was even more ambitious in summarizing astronomy, physics, geography, and meteorology. She wrote nine subsequent editions to update it over the rest of her life. In the third edition, published in 1836, she wrote that difficulties in calculating the position of Uranus may point to the existence of an undiscovered planet.

This hint inspired British astronomer John Couch Adams to begin the calculations that ultimately led to the discovery of Neptune. In 1835, on the recommendation of Prime Minister Sir Robert Peel, Somerville received a pension of £200 per year (later £300) from the Civil List. The Somerville family went to Italy in 1838 because of her husband’s ill health, and she spent the rest of her life there.

Somerville’s third book, Physical Geography ( 1848), was the first textbook on the subject in English and her most famous work. Physical Geography was influential in that “political and arbitrary divisions are disregarded” and “man himself is viewed but as a fellow inhabitant of the globe with other created things yet influencing them to a certain extent by his actions and influenced in return.” While writing it, she was discouraged by the appearance of the first volume of German naturalist Alexander von Humboldt’s Kosmos (1845), which covered similar subject matter.

However, Sir John Herschel encouraged her to publish her book. Six editions of Physical Geography were published in her lifetime. In 1869, Somerville received the Patron’s Medal of the Royal Geographical Society for Physical Geography.

Her final book, On Molecular and Microscopic Science (1869), was not as well received as her previous works. Her autobiography, Personal Recollections, from Early Life to Old Age (1873), was edited by her daughter Martha and published posthumously.

Mary Somerville’s success as a scientist and writer was not without its challenges. Her achievements challenged traditional gender roles and stereotypes, proving that women could contribute to scientific research. Despite facing discrimination and prejudice throughout her career, Somerville remained steadfast in her pursuit of knowledge. Her resilience in the face of adversity is a testament to her determination and serves as an inspiration to all who follow in her footsteps.

In addition to her scientific work, Somerville was also a proponent of women’s education and social reform. She believed that all individuals, regardless of gender, should have access to quality education and opportunities for intellectual growth. Throughout her life, she advocated for the advancement of women in academia and society. She campaigned for the establishment of educational institutions that would admit women and for the recognition of women’s intellectual capabilities. Her efforts helped to pave the way for future generations of female scientists and scholars.

In recognition of her contributions to science and society, Mary Somerville received numerous honors and accolades during her lifetime. She was elected an honorary member of the Royal Astronomical Society and the Royal Irish Academy, becoming the first woman to receive such prestigious distinctions.

Her work was also praised by leading scientists and thinkers of the time, including Sir David Brewster, who crowned her as the ‘queen of science.’ These accolades stand as a testament to her remarkable achievements and make us all proud of her.

Despite facing numerous challenges and obstacles, Mary Somerville’s legacy is a testament to the power of perseverance, passion, and dedication.  As a trailblazer for women in science, Somerville’s life and work serve as a beacon of hope. Her pioneering contributions have paved the way for future generations of female scientists, reminding us of the importance of diversity and inclusion in the pursuit of knowledge and understanding.

In November 1872, she peacefully passed away in her sleep, having spent her last evening studying the quaternions, a number system that extends the complex numbers. She had written that she regretted not having concentrated only on mathematics and astronomy.

Mary’s legacy of excellently written scientific books proves what a woman can do. She wrote that it was “unjust that women should have been given a desire for knowledge if it were wrong to acquire it.”

Mary Somerville is now a welcome addition to our ECG Hall of Fame Library.

 

References:

1. Mary Somerville — Britannica Online Encyclopedia. https://www.britannica.com/print/article/1429623

2. org. Mary Fairfax Somerville, Queen of Science. Elisabetta Strickland. August 2017. rnoti-p929.pdf (ams.org)