Early Life and Education
Mary Somerville was born to a well-off family, which allowed her a degree of freedom and opportunity not commonly available to women at the time. Her father, a sailor, was often absent, and her mother was more concerned with the practical aspects of daily life than intellectual development. As a child, Mary was not formally educated, but she developed a strong curiosity and passion for learning. She was largely self-taught, often reading the books in her father's library, which sparked her interest in science.
It was not until Mary was married at the age of 21 that she had the opportunity to study more seriously. Her first husband, Samuel Greig, was a naval officer who encouraged her intellectual pursuits. After his untimely death, she remarried a man of higher social standing, Professor William Somerville, who was a physician. William's academic background and his encouragement helped foster Mary's growing interest in science, mathematics, and astronomy.
Breakthrough in Science and Writing
One of the turning points in Mary Somerville’s life came when she translated Pierre-Simon Laplace's "Mécanique Céleste" (Celestial Mechanics) from French to English. This monumental work, which dealt with the mathematical principles governing planetary motion, was complex and difficult to understand. Somerville's translation, however, was clear and accessible, earning her a reputation as an astute mathematician and capable scientific writer. Her translation was published in 1831 and became a crucial text for English-speaking scientists. Through this work, she made significant contributions to the popularization of mathematical and astronomical ideas in England.
Somerville's interest in astronomy and mathematics continued to grow, and she soon embarked on writing a book that would cement her place in scientific history. Her book, "On the Connexion of the Physical Sciences," published in 1834, was a groundbreaking work that aimed to connect various branches of science, from chemistry and physics to geology and astronomy. The book was well-received by the scientific community and is often regarded as a precursor to modern scientific thought, as it highlighted the interconnections between different fields of study.
In the book, Somerville also discussed the theories of prominent scientists, including Isaac Newton, William Herschel, and John Herschel, her close friend and mentor. Her ability to synthesize complex scientific ideas and present them in a coherent and accessible manner was groundbreaking, particularly at a time when women were not typically involved in scientific debates or academic circles. shutdown123