Maria Mitchell American astronomer. Date of Birth: 01.08.1818 Country: USA

Biography of Maria Mitchell

Maria Mitchell was an American astronomer who was born in Nantucket, Massachusetts. She was the first American woman to become a professional astronomer. Maria came from a Quaker family and was fortunate to receive a good education, unlike many women of her time. Her parents, William Mitchell and Lydia Coleman Mitchell, valued education and ensured that Maria received the same opportunities as her brothers.

Growing up in Nantucket, Maria was influenced by the independent atmosphere of the whaling port. Many women in the town were left alone for long periods of time as their husbands went to sea. This created an unusual atmosphere where fidelity to absent husbands was not expected. Despite this unique social setting, women in Nantucket did not have political rights or civil liberties. Maria attended various schools in Nantucket, including her father's own school, where she not only studied but also assisted as a teacher.

Maria's fascination with astronomy began at home, where her father taught her the basics of the subject. At the age of 12 and a half, Maria helped her father calculate the precise timing of an eclipse. She continued her education outside of school and became a teacher's assistant for some time. In 1836, she became the first librarian of the Nantucket Atheneum and held this position for 18 years.

In the autumn of 1847, Maria discovered a comet, which was later named in her honor. For this discovery, she received a gold medal from King Frederick VII of Denmark. The significance of this award was that Maria became the second woman in the history of world astronomy to discover a comet, following in the footsteps of Caroline Herschel. The recognition brought her international acclaim.

In 1848, Maria became the first woman to be elected a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. In 1850, she was also accepted into the American Association for the Advancement of Science. In 1865, Maria became a professor of astronomy at Vassar College and the director of the college's observatory. She soon realized that she was being paid less than her less skilled male colleagues and successfully advocated for a salary increase.

Throughout her life, Maria was a champion for women's rights. In 1842, she left the Quaker faith and joined the Unitarian church. She also protested against slavery by refusing to wear cotton clothing. Maria had friendships with several prominent suffragettes of her time.

Maria Mitchell passed away on June 28, 1889, in Lynn, Massachusetts. Her contributions to the field of astronomy and her advocacy for women's rights continue to inspire generations of scientists and activists.