Great mainbodytext - Mary Fairfax Somerville

Mary Fairfax Somerville was one the most important scientists of the nineteenth century. She was important less for her contribution to the advancement of the boundaries of knowledge, than to the advancement of the distribution of knowledge.

Mary was a brilliant interpreter of scientific knowledge. She had a talent for evaluating, organising and presenting complex mathematical and scientific concepts in accessible and readable forms. Her book "Mechanisms of the Heavens", published in 1831, became a standard text in higher mathematics for the next seventy years. Remarkable for a woman who received no formal childhood education.

The family home in Burntisland

Born in Jedburgh in 1780, Mary's childhood was spent in Burntisland. Quality Street, Burntisland to be precise. Mary's father, William Fairfax, was a vice-Admiral in the British Navy and the family income was sufficient to afford good quality housing in what, according to the 'Statistical Account of Scotland 1791-1799', was not a wealthy town - "the poor, within the borough, is rather numerous. None of them however beg. There being no funds, they are supplied by weekly and extraordinary collections at the church door. "

Mary's early education was undertaken by her father during his irregular periods at home from the sea. She spent an unhappy year at boarding school in Musselburgh in 1790 and that was the extent of her formal education. In an era where society ladies were primarily destined for decorative duties, this would usually not have been a handicap.

The rather begrudging plaque on the family home in Burntisland

But Mary was an intelligent and inquisitive child. By chance she was introduced to the world of Algebra through a three dimensional puzzle in a ladies monthly magazine. From this small acorn was born a distinguished career.

The puzzle, designed as a diversion, sparked Mary's intellectual curiosity. Interrupted by her parents ordering the servants to confiscate the candles by which she studied at night in case she should go mad, Mary's self-education continued. Until she encountered a much more serious interruption.

In 1804, Mary married Captain Samuel Greig, of the Russian Navy. Given his low opinion of intellectual women, it is perhaps fortuitous that Captain Greig died after three years of marriage, during which time Mary bore him two sons. His estate was sufficient to allow Mary to live comfortably, and to continue her studies, which had progressed to Isaac Newtons's Principia, at the time considered cutting edge, and advanced Astronomy.

Her marriage to Dr. William Somerville, in 1812, must have been a blessing. It was a meeting of equals and lasted until his death, at the age of 89, after 48 years of marriage, during which time Mary bore another four children.

He encouraged and supported her intellectual quest and his easier status as a male was often leveraged to help Mary's path to acceptance.

PIERRE SIMON, MARQUIS DE LAPLACE, one of the greatest of mathematicians and astronomers of the nineteenth century

In 1827, by now living in London, Mary was asked by Lord Brougham, to undertake an interpretation of the great French mathematician and astronomer, Laplace. And so began a career which would influence mathematicians and scientists for several generations. The resulting book, which took four years in preparation, would make Mary, now aged 51, a celebrity in scientific and other circles.

She published continually and successfully to a grand old age, latterly residing in Italy where William Somerville had been advised to retire to on health grounds.

She won fame, membership of learned societies and an impressive pension from the British Government. She was a strong supporter for the education and enfranchisement of women and mentored many younger scientists including Ada Lovelace, who was to make such a notable contribution to computing.

Mary Fairfax Somerville died in Italy at the grand old age of ninety two.

Footnote:

Mary Sommerville would have been delighted that Oxford University named Somerville College after her. Whether she would have been as pleased with one of its alumni, a certain Margaret Thatcher, is questionable.