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Biography
Mary was the daughter of William George Fairfax, a naval officer who rose to become a vice admiral, and his second wife. The family home was in Burntisland, in the county of Fife (Scotland). She was the fifth of seven children, but three of them died very young. -
when was born
born December 26, 1780, Jedburgh, United Kingdom -
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Death
He died in Naples in 1872. Somerville College of the University of Oxford has kept alive the memory of his legacy since 1879 -
Personal life
Her painting teacher, Alexander Nasmyth, was the one who started her in the study of mathematics, realizing the interest of the young woman, young Mary dedicated herself with great interest to the study of algebra in the books provided by the tutor of her brother, although without neglecting her social life to satisfy her parents, at a time when the aspirations of young women had to focus on finding a good husband who would provide them with security. -
first marriage
He married in 1804, when he was 24 years old. Her husband, Samuel Greig, was a naval officer who failed to understand his wife's passion for mathematics. Mary was widowed three years later, when she was already the mother of two children. -
second matrimony
In 1812 she married a second time to William Somerville (hospital inspector), who understood and supported her interest in science. -
children
In 1814 her eldest daughter and the only child from her second marriage died, the family moving to London in 1816 when her husband was appointed Inspector of the Army Medical Board, which made it easier for him to be elected a member of the Royal Society. -
career
was a Scottish scientist, writer and polymath. Self-taught in her training, she studied mathematics and astronomy, and in 1835 she was elected along with Caroline Herschel as the first women honorary members of the Royal Astronomical Society. -
interesting stuff
She was one of the women of her time who devoted herself most passionately to the study of mathematics and knowledge of scientific advances at a time when women barely had access to science and in which they were educated to be before all wives and mothers. -
interesting stuff
He popularized astronomy and wrote many essays. His rigorous and didactic style brought him great success. Somerville was elected for membership in the Royal Astronomical Society in 1835.
Honorary member of the Société de Physique et d'Histoire Naturelle de Genève in 1834, that same year he became part of the Royal Academy of Ireland. -
Occupation
Mathematician, writer, scientist, physicist and geologist -
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health problems
A partir de 1838, los problemas de salud de William Somerville llevaron al matrimonio a trasladarse a vivir en el sur de Italia, en busca de un clima mejor. Su marido fallecería en 1860. Durante los 34 años que residió en Italia -
interesting stuff
in 1857 she was made a member of the American Geographical and Statistical Society and of the Italian Geographical Society in 1870. In 1869 she was awarded the Gold Medal of the Royal Geographical Society (known as the "Victoria Medal"). She was also elected to the American Philosophical Society.