Flora Philip (19 May 1865 – 14 August 1943) was a Scottish

mathematician A mathematician is someone who uses an extensive knowledge of mathematics in their work, typically to solve mathematical problems. Mathematicians are concerned with numbers, data, quantity, structure, space, models, and change. History On ...

, one of the first women to receive a degree from the

University of Edinburgh The University of Edinburgh ( sco, University o Edinburgh, gd, Oilthigh Dhùn Èideann; abbreviated as ''Edin.'' in post-nominals) is a public research university based in Edinburgh, Scotland. Granted a royal charter by King James VI in 15 ...

and the first female member of the

Edinburgh Mathematical Society The Edinburgh Mathematical Society is a mathematical society for academics in Scotland. History The Society was founded in 1883 by a group of Edinburgh school teachers and academics, on the initiative of Alexander Yule Fraser FRSE and Andrew Je ...

Early life

Flora Philip was born on 19 May 1865 in

Tobermory, Mull Tobermory (; gd, Tobar Mhoire) is the capital of, and until 1973 the only burgh on, the Isle of Mull in the Scottish Inner Hebrides. It is located on the east coast of Mishnish, the most northerly part of the island, near the northern entrance ...

to William Phillip, a civil engineer, and Isabella McDougall.

Education

Philip She attended at Tain Academy and then moved to

Edinburgh Edinburgh ( ; gd, Dùn Èideann ) is the capital city of Scotland and one of its 32 council areas. Historically part of the county of Midlothian (interchangeably Edinburghshire before 1921), it is located in Lothian on the southern shore of t ...

in 1883 to continue her education. At the time, the law prevented women from studying at Scottish universities so she enrolled with the

Edinburgh Association for the University Education of Women The Edinburgh Association for the University Education of Women (EAUEW), originally known as the Edinburgh Ladies' Educational Association (ELEA), campaigned for higher education for women from 1867 until 1892 when Scottish universities started ...

. In 1885 she was awarded the

Certificate in Arts by University Principal Sir William Muir, for her studies in English literature,

ethics Ethics or moral philosophy is a branch of philosophy that "involves systematizing, defending, and recommending concepts of right and wrong behavior".''Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy'' The field of ethics, along with aesthetics, concer ...

, mathematics and

physiology Physiology (; ) is the scientific study of functions and mechanisms in a living system. As a sub-discipline of biology, physiology focuses on how organisms, organ systems, individual organs, cells, and biomolecules carry out the chemical ...

. In 1889 the Universities (Scotland) Act was passed allowing women to be admitted to Scottish universities for the first time. Philip

matriculated Matriculation is the formal process of entering a university, or of becoming eligible to enter by fulfilling certain academic requirements such as a matriculation examination. Australia In Australia, the term "matriculation" is seldom used now. ...

at the University of Edinburgh and received her degree for her previous studies. On 13 April 1893 she and seven other women graduated from the University, becoming the first women to do so. A report on the graduation ceremony noted "a large attendance of the general public, many of whom were doubtless draw thither to witness the spectacle, seen for the first time in the history of this university, of ladies taking their places (one lady with distinction) among the graduates." Philip trained to teach at St George's Training College for Women Teachers, and taught at the St George's High School for Girls in Edinburgh until her marriage in 1893.

Edinburgh Mathematical Society

In December 1886 Philips became the first female member of the

despite not having a formal university degree. She withdrew her membership upon marriage in 1893, still the only woman member of the society.

Anniversary

In 1943, the University of Edinburgh marked the fiftieth anniversary of that first group of women graduates, and three of eight attended the ceremony as honoured guests on the platform: Flora Philip, Maude Elizabeth Newbigin, Amelia Hutchison Stirling. Philip died later that year.

Personal life

Philip married lawyer George Stewart in 1893. They had four children. She died in 1943 at a nursing home, aged 78 years, and is buried in Dean Cemetery.

References

1865 births 1943 deaths Scottish mathematicians Alumni of the University of Edinburgh Women mathematicians {{Authority control