Louise du Pierry or Dupiery, née ''Elisabeth Louise Felicité Pourra de la Madeleine'' (30 July 1746 – 27 February 1807), was a French
astronomer
An astronomer is a scientist in the field of astronomy who focuses their studies on a specific question or field outside the scope of Earth. They observe astronomical objects such as stars, planets, moons, comets and galaxies – in either ...
and
professor
Professor (commonly abbreviated as Prof.) is an academic rank at universities and other post-secondary education and research institutions in most countries. Literally, ''professor'' derives from Latin as a "person who professes". Professors ...
.
Life
She was born in La Ferté-Bernard, in the French province of Maine, on 1 August 1746.
Louise du Pierry was a student, and also the mistress, of
Jerome de Lalande in 1779.
She studied both natural history and astronomy.
She was member of the ''Académie des Sciences de Béziers''.
In 1789, she became the first female professor at the
Sorbonne
Sorbonne may refer to:
* Sorbonne (building), historic building in Paris, which housed the University of Paris and is now shared among multiple universities.
*the University of Paris (c. 1150 – 1970)
*one of its components or linked institution, ...
university in Paris as the leader of the ''Cours d’astronomie ouvert pour les dames et mis à leur portée'' for female students. It was the first class geared towards women.
The course was a huge success, despite many student fearing at first the subject matter would be too difficult for women.
She published many works involving the collection of astronomical data. These works include:
* ''Tables de l’effet des réfractions, en ascension droite et en déclinaison, pour la latitude de Paris'', Paris, 1791. This publication concerned the estimation of the refraction effect, knowledge of which was necessary for the calculations of astronomers. The series of tables provide the amount of the refraction effect as a function of the right ascension and declination at the latitude of Paris.
* ''Tables de la durée du jour et de la nuit'', Paris, 1792. This publication provided the duration of the days and the nights for both astronomical and civil uses.
* ''Calculs d’éclipses pour mieux trouver le movement de la Lune''
''.''
* ''Table alphabétique et analytique des matières'' continues dans le cinq tomes du ''Système des connaissances chimiques'' de Fourcroy, Paris, Beaudouin, 1799 (year X of the French revolution).
Jerome De Lalande dedicated his work ''Astronomie des Dames'' (1790),
''Astronomie des dames'', p. 6
(1817) to her, where she is lauded for her talent, taste, and courage in the field of science.
See also
* Nicole-Reine Lepaute
Nicole-Reine Lepaute () née Étable de la Brière, also erroneously known as Hortense Lepaute, (5 January 1723 – 6 December 1788) was a French astronomer and human computer. Lepaute along with Alexis Clairaut and Jérôme Lalande calculated t ...
* Timeline of women in science
This is a timeline of women in science, spanning from ancient history up to the 21st century. While the timeline primarily focuses on women involved with natural sciences such as astronomy, biology, chemistry and physics, it also includes women f ...
References
External links
Chronology of women's history by Kirstin Olsen
*
Astronomes françaises du siècle des lumières à l'ère spatiale
, calendar with short biographies (French)
{{DEFAULTSORT:Pierry, Louise Du
18th-century French astronomers
1746 births
1807 deaths
19th-century French astronomers
Women astronomers
Academic staff of the University of Paris
18th-century French women scientists
19th-century French women scientists