The Scientific Revolution - Women of Learning - Science - Letters - The Arts - 1600-1800 - Cunitz - Schurman - Cavendish - Merian - Koopman-Hevelius - Eimmart - Winkelmann-Kirch - Chatelet - Bassi - Manzolini - Agnesi - Ramsey - Pinckney - Colden - Lepaute - Caroline Herschel The Scientific Revolution - The Scientific Revolution HomePage - Dr Robert A. Hatch
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Dr Robert A. Hatch  -  University of Florida

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The following list,Women of Leaning 1500-1800, attempts to supply a comprehensive source that focuses on Natural Philosophy (science, medicine, and related areas) for the Scientific Revolution and the Early Modern period, generously defined here as 1500 to 1800. The following list includes many women who defy traditional definitions and categories, whether as 'scientist' or 'intellectual' or 'influential'. Most did not publish. For all that, many were highly influential, and their abilities have often been systematically overlooked. Influence is here defined by their actions, associations, and status, as well as their contribution by means of publication or patronage. Dozens more could be added, many names coming from the usual Opera omnia and Oeuvres complètes, the Lettres and Correspondance, of this period, and still many more will come from unpublished sources. I have been selective. The following list draws on standard printed sources, most notably the pioneering efforts of Alphonse Rebière, Les femmes dans la science (Paris 1897), and on several decades of personal research with primary printed sources and unpublished manuscripts, principally in France and Britain. This list is not perfect. It should not be considered complete or entirely free from error. It is a modest beginning. Contributions, corrections, and suggestions are welcome. Bob Hatch: ufhatch@ufl.edu


 
Sixteenth Century - Birth Dates
 
Catherine de Medicis (1519-1559) - Astronomy (Hôtel de Soissons)
Catherine of Portugal, Duchess de Bragance (d. 1582) - Savante, Mathematics, Letters
Strozzi, Lorenza (1515-1591) - Italian, Natural Philosophy
Dujardin, Suzanne, Dame Habert (fl. c. 1600) - Mathematics, Philosophy, Theology
Moza, Tarquinia (1542-1617) - Italian, Arts and Natural Philosophy
Retz, Duchesse de (1543-1603) - French, Poetry, Philosophy, Mathematics
Clermont, Catherine de, Duchess de Retz (1543?-1603) - Philosophy, Mathematics
Parthenay, Catherine de (1554-1631) - Calvinist, Translator
Brahe, Sophia (1556-1643) - Danish, astronomy and chemistry
Morelle, Julienne (1592-1654?) - Spanish, Logic
 
Seventeenth Century - Birth Dates
 
Galilei, Virginia (1600-1634) - Sister Marie Celeste - Theology, Natural Philosophy; daughter of Galileo
Succa, Marie de (1600- ?) - Belgian, Arithmetic, Music
Cunitz, Maria (1604/10-1664) - The Maria Cunitz Page
Tarabotti, Acangela (Elana Cassandra) - (1604-1652) - The Tarabotti Page
Schurman, Anna Maria van (1607-1678) - The Anna van Schurman Page
Crous, Marie (fl. ca. 1640) - Writer, Arithmetic (Paris, 1641)
Duhamel, Mlle (fl. c. 1650) - Savante, Philosophy, Letters; friend of Ménage
Dupré, Marie (17th century) - French, Writer, Natural Philosopher
Crameria, Anna-Maria (1613-1627) - Music and Arithmetic
Bourignon, Antoinette (1616-1679) - French, Mystic, Reformer; Theology
Elizabeth of Bohemia, Countess of Palatine (1618-1680) - The Elizabeth of Palatine Page
Perier, Glibert [Pascal] (1620-1687) - French, Writer, Philosophy, oldest sister of Blaise
Cavendish, Margaret (1623-1673) - The Margaret Cavendish Page
Christina, Queen of Sweden (1626-1689) - The Queen Christina Page
Guillaume, Jacquette (fl. c. 1665, d. 1700) - French, Natural Philosophy
Sophia, Electress of Hanover (1630-1714) - Bohemia, Philosophy
Sablière, Madeleine-Henriette Hesselin, Madame de la (1636-1694) - French, Letters, Learning
Behn, Aphra (1640-1689) - British, Writer, Translator of Fontenelle; Astronomy
La Sablière, Marguerite Hessein, Madame de (c. 1640-1693) - French, Natural Philosophy
Dumée, Jeanne (fl. 1680) - French, Astronomy
Serment, Louise-Anastasia (1642-1692) - French, Natural Philosophy
Rochechouart-Mortemart, Marie-Madeleine-Gabrielle de (1645-1704) - French, Learning, Theology
Grignan, Françoise Marguerite de Sévigné, comtesse de (1646-1705) - French, Savante
Lambert, Marquise de (1647-1733) - French, Author, Writer
Merian, Maria Sibylla (1647-1717) - The Maria Sibylla Merian Page
Grignan, Comtesse de (1648-1705) - French, Philosophy; Cartesian
Guyon, Madame, Jean Bouvier de la Mothe, (1648-1717) - French, Writer, Mystic
Dupré, Marie (d. 1675) - French, Philosophy; Cartesian
Hevelius, Elisabetha Koopman (1647-1693) - The Hevelius-Koopman Page
Borghini, Maria-Selvaggia (1654-1731) - Italian, Poet, Mathematics
Dacier, Anne-Lefèvre, Dame (1654-1720) - Savante, Hellenist, History, Philosophy; See Ménage
Sophia Charlotte, Queen of Prussia (1668-1705) - Philosophy
Winkelmann-Kirch, Maria Margarethe (1670-1720) - The Winkelmann-Kirch Page
Eimmart, Maria (1676-1707) - The Maria Eimmart Page
Staal-Delaunay, Marguerite (1684-1750) - Author, Writer, Savante
La Vigne, Anne de (b. 1684) - French, Natural Philosophy
Kirch, Christine (c. 1696-1782) - German, Astronomy
D'Oléans, Louise Adélaïde (?1698-?1743) - Author, Surgeon, Theology
Waeywel, Agnes (fl. c. 1717) - ?Dutch - Mathematics
Huber, Marie (fl. c. 1730) - Author, Theology, Philosophy
 
Eighteenth Century - Birth Dates
 
Dupierry, Madame (fl. c. 1742) - French, Author; Astronomy, friend of Lalande
Leporine, Dorothee-Christine (fl. c. 1749) - Author, Natural Philosophy, Gender

Chatelet, G-E Le Tonnelier de Breteuil, marquise du (1706-1749) - The Chatelet Page
Chaux, Mlle de la (d. 1755) - Writer, friend of Condillac
Bassi, Laura (1711-1778) - The Laura Bassi Page
Gottsched, Luise Aldegonde Victoire [Kulmus] - (1713-1762) - Polish, Mathematics
Erxleben, Dorothea Christiana Leporin (1715-1762) - German, Physician, Medicine
Manzolini, Anna Morandi (1716-1774) - Italian, Anatomy
Manzolini, Anna Morandi (1716-1774) - The Anna Morandi Manzolin Page
Carter, Elizabeth (1717-1806) - Translator of Natural Philosophy, Newton explicated
Agnesi, Maria Gaetana (1718-1799) - The Maria Gaetana Agnesi Page
Ramsey, Martha Laurens (1718-1811) - The Martha Laurens Ramsey Page
Biheron, Marie Catherine (1719-1786) - French, Anatomy
Lepaute, Nicole-Reine Etable de la Brire (1723-1788) - French, Astronomy
Pinckney, Eliza Luca (1723-1766) - The Eliza Luca Pinckney Page
Lepaute, Mad. Nichole-Reine-(1723-1788) - The Nicole-Reine Lepaut Page
Colden, Jane (1724-1766) - The Jane Colden Page
Saint-Chamond, Claire-Marie de [Mazarelli] (1731- post-1765) - French, Author, Philosophy (Descartes)
Tuyll, IsabelleVan, van Serooskerken, Madame de Charrière (1740-1805) Writer, Natural Philosophy
Manzolini, Anna [Morandi] (fl. c. 1770) - Italian, Natural History
Daudin, Madame (fl. c. 1780) - Ornithology, spouse of F-M Daudin
Fulhame, Elizabeth (fl. 1795) - British, Chemistry
Banks, Sarah Sophia (1744-1818) - British, Natural History
Pierry, Louise Elisabeth Félicité de la Madeleine, Madame du (b. 1746) - French, Astronomy
Genlis, Caroline-Stéphanie-Félicité du Crest de Saint-Aubin, comtesse de (1746-1830) - Writer, Savante
Secca-Suardo, Pauline (?1746-?1801) - Italian (Bergamo), Poet, Natural History
Lemasson le Golft, Mlle (b. 1750) - French, Author, Natural History
Bryan, Margaret (b. circa 1760) - British, Teacher, Natural Philosopher
Ardinghelli, Maria (fl. 1755) - Italian, Mathematics and Physics
Descartes, Catherine (fl. c. 1780) - Writer, Philosophy; niece of Descartes
Pettracini, Maria (fl. 1780) - Italian, Physician, Anatomy
Eyreinov, Johanna (fl. 1785) - Mathematics
Lalande, Marie Jeanne Amélie Harlay Lefrançais de (fl. 1790) - French, Astronomy
Herschel, Caroline Lucretia (1750-1848) - The Caroline Herschel Page
Amoretti, Maria-Pelegrina (1756-1787) - Italian, Philosophy
Germain, Sophie (1776-1831) - French, Mathematics


The Scientific Revolution - Table of Contents


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