Caroline Herschel - Ada Lovelace Day
It was a pretty easy task to pick a science or technology heroine for Ada Lovelace day this year, as I’m in the middle of reading about Caroline Herschel at the moment.
Caroline Herschel (16 March 1750 – 9 January 1848) is best know for discovering several comets, but made many contributions to astronomy, at a time when women were certainly not expected to take any part in such activities!
Feted by English society, both with her more famous brother, Sir Frederick William Herschel, and individually, she was also a noted singer in her early years. In her later years she was also a major influence on her nephew John Herschel, another astronomer, pioneering photographer, mathematician and chemist.
I think one of the things that has struck me most about this remarkable woman is not only her remarkable achievements, but the great hardships she went through in her life, as well as the enormous challenges inherent in being a female scientist at this time.
Initially an assistant to her brother, she later blossomed into becoming a noted astronomer in her own right, having discovered 8 comets, had her “Catalogue of Stars” published by the Royal Society in 1798, was awarded a salary by King George III.
In 1828 the Royal Astronomical Society presented her with their Gold Medal for this work - no woman would be awarded it again until 1996. In 1835 she was elected to honorary membership of the Royal Astronomical Society - , along with Mary Somerville the first honorary women member. In 1838 she was also elected as a member of the Royal Irish Academy and in 1846, at the age of 96, she was awarded the Gold Medal for Science by the King of Prussia. In addition, the crater C. Herschel on the Moon is named after her.
A quite remarkable career, and a remarkable woman and pioneer, who’s influence lives on today both in her work and her impact on others.
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