Maria Ogilvie Gordon, D.B.E.

Abstract

DAME MARIA OGILVIE GORDON died on June 24, and with her has passed a pioneer in woman's share of scientific education and research. Eldest daughter of the Rev. Alexander Ogilvie of Aberdeen, she received her schooling in Edinburgh. She then, 1889–90, studied at University College, London, where she won the gold medal for zoology and comparative anatomy under Ray Lankester. In 1893 she was awarded the London D.Sc. Meanwhile, 1891–95, she had undertaken an investigation of recent and fossil corals under Hertwig and Zittel at Munich. She could not in those days enter the University of Munich as an official student, but merely as a private research worker, receiving kindly assistance from the professors and others of the staff. Under these conditions she published two important papers on corals, one in the Transactions of the Royal Society and the other as a supplement to Palœontographica. In recognition of their merit, sho was in 1900 granted the Ph.D. of Munich with highest honours. The occasion was specially noteworthy because it was the first time this degree had been conferred upon a woman.