Somerville, Mary, 1780-1872

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Mary Somerville (born Mary Fairfax) was born to William George and Margaret Fairfax on December 26, 1780 in Jedburgh, Roxburghshire, Scotland. Mary became interested in mathematics while a teenager. She married Samuel Greig in 1804. Greig was a naval officer and died after 3 years of marriage. Mary then married William Somerville in 1812, who was an inspector of hospitals.

Mary Somerville's first major work was a translation of the mathematician Laplace's book Mécanique Céleste. In the translation, she also included detailed explanations of the advanced mathematics used by Laplace. One of her most famous books, Physical Geography, was published in 1848 and used in schools and universities for many years. Somerville accumulated many awards and honors during her lifetime and her works influenced some of the most celebrated scientific minds of her day.

Somerville was a strong supporter of women's suffrage and women's education. She was the first to sign the petition sent to parliament to give women the right to vote and Somerville College in Oxford, England, was named after her in 1879 because of her support of women's education.

Mary Somerville died November 29, 1872 in Naples, Italy.

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Henry Adams autograph album, 1833-1939. Houghton Library
referencedIn Vol. IX. (ff. 578). 1837-Sept. 1838.includes:f. 1 Sir James South, astronomer: Correspondence with C. Babbage: 1821-1866, n.d. ff. 3, 23, 543, 545, 560 George Peacock, Dean of Ely: Letters to C. Babbage: 1816-1850. ff. 6, 7 A. G. Pond, wife of J Po..., 1837-1838 British Library
referencedIn Autograph File, S, 1556-1996. Houghton Library
referencedIn Herschel, John F. W. (John Frederick William), Sir, 1792-1871. Letters and papers of Sir John Herschel, 1820-1870 (inclusive), [microform]. Yale University Library
referencedIn Vol. VIII. (ft. 509). 1835-1836.includes:ff. 1, 87, 98, 152, 199 G-F-Young: Letters to C. Babbage: 1835, n.d. ff. 3, 21, 90, 128 Francis Offley Martin, Charity Commissioner (1837): Correspondence with C. Babbage: 1832-1864. ff. 5, 59, 247, 261, 2..., 1835-1836 British Library
referencedIn Vol. IV (ff. 369). S-Z. Presented by the Geological Society of London. British Library
creatorOf Mary Somerville collection Iowa State University, Parks Library
referencedIn W. H. (William Henry) Smyth correspondence, 1820-1864, 1820-1864 American Philosophical Society
referencedIn Vol. VIII, ff. 297, R-Y.includes:f. 1 John Rae, FRS; Arctic explorer: Letter to R. McCormick: 1860.f. 3 Andrew Crombie Ramsay, geologist; Knight 1881: Letter to -: 1841.f. 4 Andrew Crombie Ramsay, geologist; Knight 1881: Letter to T. R. Jones: ... British Library
referencedIn Maria Mitchell Association. Mitchell Memorabilia In Maria Mitchell Lib. (Mf).
creatorOf Mary Somerville papers, [ca. 1781-ca. 1877], Circa 1781-1877 American Philosophical Society
creatorOf Irvine, Alexander, 1863-1941. Autograph Collection of Alexander Irvine. Huntington Library, Art Collections & Botanical Gardens
creatorOf Somerville, Mary, 1780-1872. Miscellaneous letters, 1832-1870. American Institute of Physics
referencedIn American Philosophical Society Library. Miscellaneous Manuscripts Collection. 1668-1983. American Philosophical Society
referencedIn Coffin, James H. (James Henry), 1806-1873. James Henry Coffin Papers, 1848-1884 Smithsonian Institution Archives
referencedIn Susan Groag Bell's, An Annotated bibliography of British Women's autobiographies, 1790-1950 :, research and reference materials, 1986-1998 Stanford University. Department of Special Collections and University Archives
referencedIn Vol. I (ff. 187). General correspondence of W. Huskisson, etc., 1799-1887. The names of writers are given in the Index.William Huskisson, statesman: Supplementary official and private correspondence and papers, etc.: 1799-1887.includes:ff. 1, 3, 5, 2..., 1799-1887 British Library
creatorOf Somerville, Mary, 1780-1872. Letters. Smithsonian Institution. Libraries
referencedIn Vol. X. (ff. 696). Oct. 1838-Dec. 1841.includes:f. 1 Sir Benjamin Collins Brodie, 1st Baronet: Letters to C. Babbage: 1834-1861. ff. 3, 115, 534 Robert Vaughan Richards, barrister: Letters to C. Babbage: 1831-1841. ff. 5, 389 Julius Jeffreys: Lett... British Library
referencedIn Dimsdale, Joseph, b. 1781. Joseph Dimsdale collection, 1725-1849 (inclusive) University of Chicago Library
creatorOf Somerville, Mary, 1780-1872. Letter, 1834. Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Papers of Harriet Goodhue Hosmer, 1834-1959 Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Vol. CCCXXXIII (ff. 363). 1-14 Aug. 1842.Victoria of England: Correspondence rel. to her visit to Scotland: 1842.includes:f. 1 Francis Bernard, Viscount Bernard; 3rd Earl of Bandon 1856: Letters to Sir R. Peel: 1842-1845.f. 3 Charles Buller, MP: ... British Library
creatorOf Vol. III (ff. 226). P -Y.includes:f. 1 William Paley, Archdeacon of Carlisle: Letter to the Rev. A. Youle: 1795.f. 3 Henry John Temple, 3rd Viscount Palmerston; Prime Minister: Letter to — Thomson: 1836.f. 4 Henry John Temple, 3rd Viscount Pal... British Library
creatorOf Somerville, Mary, 1780-1872. Correspondence, 1829-1869. American Institute of Physics, Niels Bohr Library
creatorOf Sotheby, William, 1757-1833. Letters to William Sotheby, 1813-1833. Huntington Library, Art Collections & Botanical Gardens
referencedIn Vol. XIII. (ff. 659). June, 1847-Dec. 1851. British Library
creatorOf Somerville, Mary, 1780-1872. Papers, [ca. 1781-ca. 1877]. American Philosophical Society Library
referencedIn Scientists Collection, 1563-1973 American Philosophical Society
creatorOf Somerville, Mary, 1780-1872. Mary Somerville letter to Brown, 1844. Metropolitan Museum of Art, Thomas J. Watson Library
creatorOf Somerville, Mary, 1780-1872. Papers, 1806-1872. American Institute of Physics
referencedIn Vol. IV. (ff. 561). 1830-June, 1831.includes:ff. 1, 3, 7, 10, 42, 86, 390 Anthony Ashley Cooper, 7th Earl of Shaftesbury: Correspondence, etc., with C. Babbage: 1829-1857, n.d. ff. 5, 14, 23, 28, 357 Reverend Thomas John Hussey, astronomer: Letter t..., 1830-1831 British Library
referencedIn Vol. CCXXXVIII (ff. 355). 22 CCLXI. 22-31 Mar. 1835.includes:f. 1 Lord William George Frederick Cavendish-Bentinck, statesman: Correspondence with Sir R. Peel: 1835-1848. ff. 3, 4 Ernest Augustus; King of Hanover; Duke of Cumberland, son of George II... British Library
referencedIn Smyth, W. H. (William Henry), 1788-1865. Correspondence, 1820-1864. American Philosophical Society Library
referencedIn Smithsonian Institution. Office of the Secretary. Correspondence, 1863-1879 Smithsonian Institution Archives
referencedIn Vol. XII. (ff. 551). 1844-May, 1847.includes:ff. 1, 15, 25, 96, 111, 122, 137, 142, 148, 295, 297, 336, 343, 478, 482, 546 Sir Charles Lyell, 1st Baronet; geologist: Letters to C. Babbage: 1826-1854. f. 2 Reverend William Pulling: Letter to C. Babba..., 1844-1847 British Library
referencedIn Dimsdale, Joseph. Collection, 1725-1849 Special Collections Research Center, University of Chicago Library,
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associatedWith Adams, Henry, 1838-1918 person
associatedWith Agassiz, Louis, 1807-1873 person
associatedWith Babbage, Charles, 1791-1871. person
associatedWith Banks, Joseph, Sir, 1743-1820 person
associatedWith Bell, Susan G. person
associatedWith Bell, Susan Groag person
associatedWith Cooper, Thomas, 1759-1839 person
associatedWith Coues, Elliott, 1842-1899 person
associatedWith Cuvier, Georges, Baron, 1769-1832 person
associatedWith Darlington, William, 1782-1863 person
associatedWith Dibner, Bern, person
associatedWith Dimsdale, Joseph person
associatedWith Dimsdale, Joseph, b. 1781. person
associatedWith Edison, Thomas A., (Thomas Alva), 1847-1931 person
associatedWith Einstein, Albert, 1879-1955 person
associatedWith Everett, Edward, 1794-1865 person
associatedWith Fitch, John person
associatedWith Genth, F. A., (Frederick Augustus), 1820-1893 person
associatedWith Gray, Asa, 1810-1888 person
associatedWith Greeley, Horace, 1811-1872 person
associatedWith Greig, Woronzow person
associatedWith Greig, Woronzow. person
associatedWith Harding, Warren G. person
associatedWith HARRIET GOODHUE HOSMER, 1830-1908 person
correspondedWith Henry, Joseph, 1797-1878 person
associatedWith Herschel, John F. W. (John Frederick William), Sir, 1792-1871. person
associatedWith Hershel, John F. W. (John Frederick William), Sir, 1792-1871. person
associatedWith Hosmer, Harriet Goodhue, 1830-1908. person
associatedWith Irvine, Alexander, 1863-1941. person
associatedWith Lafayette, Marie Joseph Paul Yves, marquis de, 1757-1834 person
associatedWith Lafayette, Marie Joseph Paul Yves Roch Gilbert Du Motier, marquis de, 1757-1834. person
associatedWith Lubbock, J. W. (John William), 1803-1865. person
associatedWith Lubbock, J. W. (John William), Sir, 1803-1865. person
associatedWith Lyell, Charles, Sir, 1797-1875. person
associatedWith Martineau, Harriet, 1802-1876. person
correspondedWith Mitchell, Maria person
associatedWith Newcomb, Simon person
associatedWith Newton, Isaac, Sir, 1642-1727 person
associatedWith Patterson, Elizabeth Chambers, person
associatedWith Patterson, Elizabeth Chambers, family
correspondedWith Phillips, John person
associatedWith Poinsett, Joel Roberts, 1779-1851 person
associatedWith Rittenhouse, David, 1732-1796 person
associatedWith Rush, Benjamin, 1746-1813 person
associatedWith Schoolcraft, Henry Rowe, 1793-1864 person
associatedWith Seybert, Adam, 1773-1825 person
associatedWith Smyth, W. H. (William Henry), 1788-1865. person
associatedWith Somerville, Martha C. person
associatedWith Somerville, Martha C. person
associatedWith Somerville, William, 1771-1860. person
associatedWith Sotheby, William, 1757-1833. person
associatedWith Sparks, Jared, 1789-1866 person
associatedWith Stevens, Henry person
associatedWith Sully, Thomas, 1783-1872 person
associatedWith Thomson, Charles, 1729-1824 person
associatedWith Waterton, Charles, 1782-1865 person
associatedWith Wayne, Anthony person
Place Name Admin Code Country
Naples 04 IT
Jedburgh SCT GB
Subject
Astronomy
Authorship
Halley's comet
Light
Mathematicians
Mathematics
Physical geography
Physics
Science
Women in science
Women scientists
Occupation
Science writers
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Birth 1780-12-26

Death 1872-11-28

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English

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