FORGOTTEN FIFE SCIENTIST NOMINATED FOR SCOTTISH PARLIAMENT RECOGNITION

FORGOTTEN FIFE SCIENTIST NOMINATED FOR SCOTTISH PARLIAMENT RECOGNITION

A Fife MSP has nominated a Fife woman to be one of the historical
figures to have a Scottish Parliament Committee Room named after them.

Tricia Marwick MSP has nominated Mary Somerville (1780-1872) who lived
in Burntisland and was one of the foremost scientific people of her
day.

Mrs Marwick said:

"Here is a woman who is commemorated on the moon, has an island in the
arctic named after her but is all but unknown in Scotland. I want The
Scottish Parliament to put that right."

Mary Somerville was born in Jedburgh but was brought up in Burntisland
where the family had their home. Her family home in Burntisland is now
known as Somerville House.

She was one of the first two women to be admitted to the Royal
Astronomical Society and was the first person to have the word
‘scientist’ attributed to her.

Her outstanding career has been recognised by having an island, an
asteroid and a lunar crater named after her. Somerville College,
Oxford was also named after her.

Mrs Marwick added:

“Mary Somerville is a towering figure in the scientific community, she
was admired by all the leading thinkers of the day but she has never
been given the recognition she deserves in Scotland.

“Mary Somerville was self-taught at a time when women were not
expected to be educated. Her legacy has been recognised through being
the first person to be named as a scientist, as well as having an
island, an asteroid and a lunar crater named after her.”

When John Stuart Mill the British Philosopher put forward to
Parliament the first Petition for Womens' suffrage it was Mary
Somerville' s name that he wanted to be the first signature on it.
Somerville College was named after her because of her support for
women and education.

Mrs Marwick continued;

"However, despite all of her achievements, Mary Somerville is almost
unknown in Scotland. This is the time to mark her legacy and I think
it would be a fitting tribute to her and her work if one of the
Scottish Parliament’s Committee Rooms was to be named after her.

“I know that a number of MSPs will be putting forward their own
suggestions for historical figures who they feel should have a
Scottish Parliament Committee Room named after them. I can think of
no better choice than Mary Somerville and I will be making the case
for her at every possible opportunity,”