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She was the daughter of Admiral Sir William George Fairfax , and was born at the manse of Jedburgh, the house of her mother's sister, wife of Dr Thomas Somerville (1741–1830), author of My Own Life and Times, whose son would become Mary's second husband. She received a rather desultory education, and mastered algebra and Euclid in secret after she had left school, and without any extraneous help. In 1804 she married her distant cousin, the Russian Consul in London, Captain Samuel Greig , who died in 1806; they had two children.
After the death of her husband, she had an inheritance and freedom to pursue her intellectual interests. In 1812 she married another cousin, Dr William Somerville (1771–1860), inspector of the army medical board, who encouraged and greatly aided her in the study of the physical sciences. They had a further four children. After her marriage she made the acquaintance of the most eminent scientific men of the time, among whom her talents had attracted attention before she had acquired general fame, Laplace paying her the compliment of stating that she was the only woman who understood his works. She studied mathematics and astronomy, and became the second woman scientist in Britain after Caroline Herschel.
Having been requested by Lord BroughamHenry Peter Brougham, 1st Baron Brougham and Vaux ( September 19, 1778 May 7, 1868) was Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain. He was born at Edinburgh, the eldest son of Henry Brougham and Eleanora, daughter of the Rev. James Syme. In his later years he to translate for the Society for the Diffusion of Useful KnowledgeThe Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge was founded in 1828 in London, mainly at the instigation of Lord Brougham with the objects of publishing information to people who were unable to obtain formal teaching, or who preferred self- education. the Mécanique Céleste of Laplace, she greatly popularized its form, and its publication in 1831Events February- March Revolts in Modena, Parma and the Papal States are put down by Austrian troops February 20 Battle of Grochow. Polish rebel forces divide a Russian army. March 1 Democrat Samuel Smith becomes President Pro Tempore of the United States, under the title of The Mechanism of the Heavens, at once made her famous. Her other works are the Connection of the Physical Sciences ( 1834Events January 1 Abolition of customs charges at borders within Germany. January 3 The government of Mexico imprisons Stephen F. Austin in Mexico City March 6 York, Upper Canada is incorporated as Toronto. March 18 The Tolpuddle Martyrs, six Dorset farm l), Physical Geography ( 18481848 is a leap year starting on Saturday (link will take you to calendar). Events Sri Lanka The Revolution of 1848 (qv. a series of widespread but failed struggles for more liberal governments, from Brazil to Hungary. January 24 California gold rush: Jame), and Molecular and Microscopic Science ( 18691869 is a common year starting on Friday (link will take you to calendar). Events March 1 North German Confederation issues 10 gr and 30gr value stamps, printed on goldbeater's skin May 10 Transcontinental Railroad completed at Promontory, Utah. May 15 Wo). In 1835Events January 1 Ole Pedersen Hoiland breaks into the Bank of Norway and steals 64. 000 dalers January 7 HMS Beagle anchors off the Chonos Archipelago. January 30 Unsuccessful assassination attempt against President Andrew Jackson in the United States Cap, she and Caroline Herschel became the first women members of the Royal Astronomical SocietyThe Royal Astronomical Society (RAS) began as the Astronomical Society of London in 1820 to support astronomical research (mainly carried on at the time by 'gentleman astronomers' rather than professionals). It became the Royal Astronomical Society in 183. In 1838 she and her husband went to Italy, where she spent much of the rest of her life.
Much of the popularity of her writings was due to their clear and crisp style and the underlying enthusiasm for her subject which pervaded them. In 1835 she received a pension of £300 from government. She died at Naples on November 28, 1872. In the following year there appeared her autobiographical Personal Recollections, consisting of reminiscences written during her old age, and of great interest both for what they reveal of her own character and life and the glimpses they afford of the literary and scientific society of bygone times.
Somerville College, Oxford, was named after Mary Somerville. Somerville Island (54°44'N 130°17'W) [1] off British Columbia near the border with Alaska was named after her by Sir William Edward Parry.This article incorporates text from the public domain 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica. 1911 Britannica
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