Maria Mitchell - Astronomers, Facts and Personal Life
Maria Mitchell's Personal Details
Maria Mitchell was the first professional female astronomer in the United States
| Information | Detail |
|---|---|
| Birthday | August 1, 1818 |
| Died on | June 28, 1889 |
| Nationality | American |
| Famous | Scientists, Astronomers |
| City/State | Massachusetts |
| Siblings | Phebe Mitchell Kendall |
| Birth Place | Nantucket |
| Religion | Unitarianism |
| Gender | Female |
| Father | William Mitchell |
| Mother | Lydia Coleman Mitchell |
| Sun Sign | Leo |
| Born in | Nantucket |
| Famous as | Astronomer |
| Died at Age | 70 |
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Maria Mitchell's photo
Who is Maria Mitchell?
Maria Mitchell was a 19th century American astronomer, credited to be the first professional female astronomer in the United States. Distantly related to the renowned polymath, Benjamin Franklin, she was born into an open-minded Quaker family. Her parents believed in educating women and encouraged young Maria’s early intellectual pursuits. She grew up in a community where she was surrounded by independent-minded women and she too developed into a strong-willed and intelligent woman. Her father was a school principal and, at home he taught her astronomy using his personal telescope. She developed a passion for astronomy and discovered that she was naturally skilled in this subject. She was not even 13 when she helped her father in calculating the exact moment of an annular eclipse. A few years later she discovered a comet which eventually became known as "Miss Mitchell's Comet". This discovery of hers made her popular and she earned worldwide fame for being one of the few women to have ever discovered a comet. As the country’s first professional female astronomer, she was much respected and also served in several prestigious academic positions. In addition to being an astronomer she was also a feminist who believed in equal rights for all irrespective of gender or race
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Childhood & Early Life
Maria Mitchell was born on August 1, 1818, in Nantucket, Massachusetts, to William Mitchell and Lydia Coleman Mitchell. Her parents were Quakers and she was one of their ten children.
Growing up in a typical Quaker community which emphasized on girls’ education and women’s equality, Maria and her sisters received a high-quality education at par with their brothers.
She received her primary education from Elizabeth Gardener's small school and later moved to the North Grammar school, where her father was the first principal. Her father later built his own school where she was not only a student, but also a teaching assistant to her father.
Her father realized Maria’s interest in astronomy and started teaching her astronomy using his personal telescope at home. She had a natural flair for learning about the heavenly bodies and helped her father in calculating the exact moment of an annular eclipse even before she turned 13.
Her father’s school closed down and thus she moved on to attend Unitarian minister Cyrus Peirce's school for young ladies.
Career
After completing her education from Peirce’s school she started working as his teaching assistant. Eventually she opened her own school in 1835.
An independent minded woman who believed in equal rights for all, she decided to allow all children irrespective of their color or race to attend her school. It was considered a controversial move because in those times segregated schools were the norm.
She was later on offered the position of the first librarian of the Nantucket Atheneum which she accepted. She held this job for the next 20 years. She continued studying and observing the heavenly bodies on her own in her leisure time in addition to her job.
She observed a small blurry streak in the sky through her telescope on the evening of October 1, 1847. She realized that it was a comet and excitedly informed her father. She then recorded the object’s position, and continued to observe it to be sure it was a comet.
When she became sure that it was indeed a comet, her father announced her discovery. This discovery won her a prestigious award and she soon became very famous all over the world. She gained a reputation for being America’s first professional astronomer and became one of the very few women known to have discovered a comet.
In 1848, she was elected as Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, becoming the first woman to be accorded this honor. A couple of years later she was made a member of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.
In 1865, she became professor of astronomy at Vassar College—the first person to be appointed to this position at the college, and the first female astronomy professor in the United States. She was also appointed director of Vassar College Observatory. She taught in the college until her retirement in 1888.
As a professor she always emphasized on the importance of observation. She encouraged her students to observe things themselves rather than relying only on books for knowledge. She, along with several of her students traveled 2,000 miles to Colorado to witness a total solar eclipse in 1878.
She was also a staunch feminist who advocated for women’s rights and encouraged women to pursue their intellectual interests instead of limiting themselves to their household chores.
Major Work
She received worldwide acclaim for discovering a new comet which she first spotted in the sky on October 1, 1847. The comet was named "Miss Mitchell's Comet" after her, and she became one of the few women ever to have discovered a comet.
Awards & Achievements
She won the King of Denmark's Cometary Prize Medal, 1848, for her discovery of a new comet which was later named as "Miss Mitchell's Comet".
The Maria Mitchell Observatory on Nantucket is named after her, as is the Mitchell crater on the moon.
Maria Mitchell was posthumously inducted into the National Women's Hall of Fame in 1994.
Personal Life & Legacy
Maria Mitchell never married. Throughout her life she remained close to her parents and siblings, and took care of her father after her mother’s death in 1861.
She died on June 28, 1889, at the age of 70, in Lynn, Massachusetts.
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Maria Mitchell's awards
| Year | Name | Award |
|---|---|---|
Other | ||
| 0 | Notable awards - King of Denmark's Cometary Prize Medal | |
| 0 | 1848 | |
Maria Mitchell biography timelines
- // 1st Aug 1818Maria Mitchell was born on August 1, 1818, in Nantucket, Massachusetts, to William Mitchell and Lydia Coleman Mitchell. Her parents were Quakers and she was one of their ten children.
- // 1835After completing her education from Peirce’s school she started working as his teaching assistant. Eventually she opened her own school in 1835.
- // 1st Oct 1847She observed a small blurry streak in the sky through her telescope on the evening of October 1, 1847. She realized that it was a comet and excitedly informed her father. She then recorded the object’s position, and continued to observe it to be sure it was a comet.
- // 1st Oct 1847She received worldwide acclaim for discovering a new comet which she first spotted in the sky on October 1, 1847. The comet was named "Miss Mitchell's Comet" after her, and she became one of the few women ever to have discovered a comet.
- // 1848In 1848, she was elected as Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, becoming the first woman to be accorded this honor. A couple of years later she was made a member of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.
- // 1848She won the King of Denmark's Cometary Prize Medal, 1848, for her discovery of a new comet which was later named as "Miss Mitchell's Comet".
- // 1861Maria Mitchell never married. Throughout her life she remained close to her parents and siblings, and took care of her father after her mother’s death in 1861.
- // 1865 To 1888In 1865, she became professor of astronomy at Vassar College—the first person to be appointed to this position at the college, and the first female astronomy professor in the United States. She was also appointed director of Vassar College Observatory. She taught in the college until her retirement in 1888.
- // 1878As a professor she always emphasized on the importance of observation. She encouraged her students to observe things themselves rather than relying only on books for knowledge. She, along with several of her students traveled 2,000 miles to Colorado to witness a total solar eclipse in 1878.
- // 28th Jun 1889She died on June 28, 1889, at the age of 70, in Lynn, Massachusetts.
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Maria Mitchell's FAQ
What is Maria Mitchell birthday?
Maria Mitchell was born at 1818-08-01
When was Maria Mitchell died?
Maria Mitchell was died at 1889-06-28
Where was Maria Mitchell died?
Maria Mitchell was died in Lynn
Which age was Maria Mitchell died?
Maria Mitchell was died at age 70
Where is Maria Mitchell's birth place?
Maria Mitchell was born in Nantucket
What is Maria Mitchell nationalities?
Maria Mitchell's nationalities is American
Who is Maria Mitchell siblings?
Maria Mitchell's siblings is Phebe Mitchell Kendall
What is Maria Mitchell's religion?
Maria Mitchell's religion is Unitarianism
Who is Maria Mitchell's father?
Maria Mitchell's father is William Mitchell
Who is Maria Mitchell's mother?
Maria Mitchell's mother is Lydia Coleman Mitchell
What is Maria Mitchell's sun sign?
Maria Mitchell is Leo
How famous is Maria Mitchell?
Maria Mitchell is famouse as Astronomer