For #Spacetober prompt historic figures, the one & only Mary Fairfax Somerville (1780-1872). As a young widow she made a name for herself when she won a silver medal in 1811 from the Military College at Marlow math journal. Wallace suggested she read Laplace & finding she understood it as well as her tutor her confidence increased, & she expanded her studies to #astronomy, chemistry, #geography, microscopy, electricity & magnetism. 🧵1/n
