Charlotte Scott
| Charlotte Scott | |
|---|---|
Charlotte Angas Scott
|
|
| Born |
8 June 1858 Lincoln, England |
| Died | 10 November 1931 (aged 73) Cambridge, England |
| Nationality | British |
| Fields | Mathematics |
| Institutions |
Cambridge University Bryn Mawr College |
| Doctoral advisor | Arthur Cayley |
| Doctoral students |
Louise Cummings Ada Maddison Virginia Ragsdale Emilie Martin |
Charlotte Angas Scott (8 June 1858, Lincoln, England – 10 November 1931, Cambridge, England) was a British mathematician who made her career in the United States and was influential in the development of American mathematics, including the mathematical education of women. Scott played an important role in Cambridge changing the rules for its famous Mathematical Tripos exam.
She was the second of seven children to Caleb Scott, a minister of the Congregational Church, and Eliza Exely Scott. Educated at Girton College, Cambridge from 1876 to 1880 on a scholarship, she was then a Resident Lecturer in Mathematics there until 1884. In 1885 she became the first British woman to receive a doctorate. She did her graduate research under Arthur Cayley at Cambridge University, but since Cambridge did not begin issuing degrees to women until 1948, Scott received her BSc (1882) and D.Sc. (1885) from the University of London.
She presented the silver challenge cup for Girton and Newnham Lawn Tennis Doubles in 1883.
In 1880, Scott obtained special permission to take the Cambridge Mathematical Tripos Exam, as women were not normally allowed to sit for the exam. She came eighth on the Tripos of all students taking them, but due to her sex, the title of "eighth wrangler," a high honour, went officially to a male student.
At the ceremony, however, after the seventh wrangler had been announced, all the students in the audience shouted her name.
The man read out the names and when he came to 'eighth,' before he could say the name, all the undergraduates called out 'Scott of Girton,' and cheered tremendously, shouting her name over and over again with tremendous cheers and waving of hats.
Because she could not attend the award ceremony, Scott celebrated her accomplishment at Girton College where there were cheers and clapping at dinner, a special evening ceremony where the students sang "See the Conquering Hero Comes", received an ode written by a staff member, and was crowned with laurels.
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