August 1st is the anniversary of the birth of the remarkable Maria (pronounced muh.RYE.uh) Mitchell. She was born in 1818 in Nantucket off the coast of Massachusetts, USA.

Maria Mitchell was a true pioneer woman, though she didn't brave a physical wilderness. Hers was the harder job of pioneering higher education for women. She was the first American woman to discover a comet, the first to be elected to scientific societies and the first woman professor of astronomy in the USA. In fact, I haven't been able to find any record of a female professor in any subject before Mitchell's appointment.

I very much enjoyed reading Maria Mitchell: Life, Letters, and Journals. You can find out more about Maria Mitchell in Her Own Words and get the URL of the book. It's available free through Project Gutenberg. Selections from her journals and letters are fascinating. She had a good writing style and she knew all sorts of interesting people.

An American newspaper reported:



A bit patronizing, but I suppose fairly generous for the time. Points for describing Maria Mitchell is "a scientific American woman", but might have to deduct some for "our fair countrywoman".

Two years ago, on the 195th anniversary of Maria Mitchell's birth, she got a Google doodle.

Indeed an inspiration! Happy Birth Day Maria Mitchell.