The Great Philosopher: Mariah Mitchell's Contributions

Mariah Mitchell was born in 1818. Mitchell grew up in Nantucket Massachusetts, she was the third oldest of ten children. Her father was the one who helped her with her interest in astronomy. At an early age Maria’s father “used stellar observations to check the accuracy of chronometers for Nantucket, Massachusetts, whalers and taught his children to use a sextant and reflecting telescope” (Sarah Zielinski, smithsonian.com). Maria got a good education at a “school at which her father was the master” (nwhm.org). At the young age of seventeen, Maria opened her own schools for girls, there she taught science and math. Maria discovered what they call “Miss Mitchell’s Comet” at the age of twenty-nine. This was the first known comet in America. She was able to observe the night sky thanks to her father who had his own observatory. What was fascinating
Mitchell did face some controversy with a man who claimed the comet discovery, after that was cleared up “she was awarded the international medal for this achievement” (nwhm.org). For a living Maria worked for the U.S government as a Costal Survey. Mitchel made $300 a year and was the “first case of a woman earning an annual salary for work based on knowledge of an academic field” (nwhm.org). Mitchell faced many challenges going through the civil war and being an important woman. She was against slavery and stood for women and equal rights. In my opinion we should know about Maria Mitchell not only because of her scientific discovery of the comets, but also for what she stood for. She made a large change in science for her era, but also was a women of many first and stood for what she believed in. Without her want for education and belief in herself and rights she would not be the well known women she is today. Maria Mitchell passed away on “June 28, 1889”