JOURNAL ARTICLE

Mary Somerville's Innovative Translation.

  • Published In: Transactions of the American Philosophical Society, 2024, v. 113, n. 4. P. 165 1 of 3

  • Database: Humanities Source Ultimate 2 of 3

  • Authored By: Christ, Marian 3 of 3

Abstract

The article focuses on Mary Somerville's significant contributions to science through her translation of Pierre-Simon Laplace's *Traité de mécanique céleste*, titled *Mechanism of the Heavens*, which solidified her status in the scientific community of 19th-century England. Despite limited formal education, Somerville became a prominent scientist, known for her self-taught expertise in mathematics and astronomy, and for her ability to engage with leading scientific figures of her time. Her translation, published in 1831, included additional mathematical explanations and diagrams, making complex scientific concepts more accessible to English readers and eventually used in advanced courses at Cambridge University. Somerville's work and advocacy for women's education in science earned her numerous honors, including honorary memberships in prestigious scientific societies and a government pension for her contributions to the field. [Extracted from the article]

Additional Information

  • Source:Transactions of the American Philosophical Society. 2024/12, Vol. 113, Issue 4, p165
  • Document Type:Article
  • Subject Area:History
  • Publication Date:2024
  • ISSN:00659746
  • DOI:10.1353/tap.2024.a950141
  • Accession Number:185820088
  • Copyright Statement:Copyright of Transactions of the American Philosophical Society is the property of University of Pennsylvania Press and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

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