Maria Mitchell

Date of Birth: August 1, 1818

Zodiac Sign: Leo

Date of Death: June 28, 1889

Biography

Maria Mitchell was a pioneering American astronomer, born on August 1, 1818, in Nantucket, Massachusetts. She was the first American woman to become a professional astronomer and gained international recognition for her discovery of a comet in 1847, which subsequently became known as “Miss Mitchell’s Comet.” Maria was educated at home by her father, who was a schoolteacher and an amateur astronomer. She utilized his telescope for her observations, which led to her groundbreaking discovery. Mitchell’s achievements in astronomy earned her a gold medal from the King of Denmark and membership in the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, making her the first woman to receive this honor. She also became the first female member of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. In 1865, she was appointed as a professor of astronomy at Vassar College, where she became the first female professor of astronomy in the United States. Mitchell was a strong advocate for women’s education and rights, and she mentored many young women who went on to have successful careers in science. Throughout her life, Maria Mitchell worked tirelessly to advance the field of astronomy and to champion the cause of women’s rights in education and the professional world. She passed away on June 28, 1889, in Lynn, Massachusetts, leaving behind a legacy of scientific achievement and advocacy for women in science.

5 Interesting Facts about Maria Mitchell

1. Maria Mitchell discovered “Miss Mitchell’s Comet” on October 1, 1847.

2. She was the first woman to be elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.

3. She was appointed the first female professor of astronomy at Vassar College in 1865.

4. Mitchell was an advocate for women’s education and was active in the women’s suffrage movement.

5. She used her father’s telescope for the observations that led to her comet discovery.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Maria Mitchell

1. “We especially need imagination in science. It is not all mathematics, nor all logic, but it is somewhat beauty and poetry.”

2. “Study as if you were going to live forever; live as if you were going to die tomorrow.”

3. “Science needs women.”

4. “The more we see, the more we are capable of seeing.”

5. “I was born of Quaker parents. I never was taught that the sexes were unequal, but that all were equal in the eyes of God.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

As a 19th-century scientist and educator, Maria Mitchell did not amass significant personal wealth. Her contributions were more in the realm of academic and scientific achievements rather than financial gain.