Mary Somerville
4 Scottish Trailblazers Who Changed the World
At a time when women had little to do with the study of science or mathematics, Mary Somerville took to both and did her best to teach others as well. She was the first female honorary member of the Royal Astronomical Society (along with Caroline Herschel), and in 1834 she became the first person in the world to be described in print as a ‘scientist’. Mary had to fight hard to persist in her chosen career – her first husband thought such topics unsuited to women. Fortunately, her second husband was more enlightened and encouraged her to conduct experiments, write and publish textbooks which explained science, in meaningful terms, to the general public.
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Mary Somerville was barred by statue from being made a Fellow of the Royal Society, but a bust of her was placed in the entrance hall. A ship was named for her, a college at the University of Oxford, poems were dedicated to her, and today her face is on a Scottish banknote. Discover more about this determined and courageous woman, who entered a sphere regarded as ‘unfeminine’ and left us all a lasting legacy. Just $15, purchase access here.
“The life of a woman entirely devoted to her family duties and to scientific pursuits affords little scope for a biography. There are in it neither stirring events nor brilliant deeds to record…”
― Martha Somerville, Personal recollections, from early life to old age of Mary Somerville Chapter 1
This Zoom video is a real treat! Taken from a live-streamed presentation, it has been carefully recorded and completely edited to deliver the experience of being part of an audience and having the best seat in the house. It is about 50 minutes full of intriguing information about this Scottish Trailblazer and includes audience participation. Buy it now and view your video immediately. Just $15, purchase access here.
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At a time when women had little to do with the study of science or mathematics, Mary Somerville was a true Trailblazer. What do you think? Let’s discuss it here.
Here are links for additional materials I can recommend. I include a reading list of books in print, ebook, or audio. You can enjoy movie versions, related videos, weblinks, and much more. Have anything to add here? Let me know.
WORKS BY MARY SOMERVILLE
Personal Recollections from Early Life to Old Age of Mary Somerville by Martha Somerville
Physical Geography by Mary Somerville
WORKS BY MARY SOMERVILLE – FREE DOWNLOAD
Some free versions are better than others, please feel free to try these, but I cannot guarantee the quality.
Project Gutenberg: Works by Mary Somerville
Internet Archive: Works by Mary Somerville
Free downloadable versions in various formats including Kindle, epub, pdf and others.
If you are unsure of how to add these files to your ereader, look here.
WORKS ABOUT MARY SOMERVILLE
Mary Somerville and the World of Science by Allan Chapman
This Long Pursuit: Reflections of a Romantic Biographer by Richard Holmes
Seduced by Logic: Émilie du Châtelet, Mary Somerville and the Newtonian Revolution by Robyn Arianrhod
MOVIES & VIDEOS
YouTube: A playlist for Mary Somerville
LINKS
History of Mathematics Archive: Mary Somerville
Famous Scientists: Mary Somerville
Somerville College, Oxford
Margy Syrett
Hi Susannah. Catching up on your wonderful talk on Mary Somerville. My question is in regard to her contract with her publisher, James Murray. Do we know if her terms were the same as male authors and was the money she earned paid to her or to her husband? Thanks, Margy
Susannah Fullerton
I should think that the ledgers in the John Murray archive would tell us what she was paid, but I suspect that she was paid less than the men were! And anything she earned belonged to her husband – she was lucky he adored her and would not have argued about it. All so unfair for women then!
Christine Rogers
In the course you did in Edinburgh did you ever study Mary Sommerville
Susannah Fullerton
No, I didn’t. Although my degree there was called an M.Sc., it was actually in the Arts and I studied English Literature. I don’t think I ever heard of Mary Spomerville while I was there.