Skip to content

Please be aware that some material may contain words, descriptions or illustrations which will not reflect current scientific understanding and may be considered in today's context inaccurate, unethical, offensive or distressing.

The Royal Society: Science in the Making

Letter, from Mary Somerville to Sir John Herschel, dated at London

Reference number: HS/16/350

Date: 16 September 1844

Description

Autograph letter signed by sender. Thanks John Frederick William Herschel for meeting and sharing his current research. [August] De Morgan and [Henry Fox] Talbot sent her their papers. Mary Somerville now has a "photographic apparatus" and enough books to start working on actinochemistry (photography). Enjoyed her visit to Collingwood and her stay with the Herschels. Feels privileged to be Godmother of their daughter [likely Matilda Rose Herschel]. Thanks Herschel on behalf of her son [Woronzow Greig] and Misses Greig [Agnes Graham] for welcoming them at Collingwood. They accompany her via Folkestone to France from where she continues her travel alone.

Reference number
HS/16/350
Earliest possible date
16 September 1844
Page extent
3 pages
Format
Manuscript
Also available on Epsilon
View Also available on Epsilon (external link, opens in new tab)

Creator name

Mary Somerville

Use this record

IIIF manifest

View​ IIIF ​ manifest Opens in new tab

Open in Mirador viewer Opens in new tab

Export this record

Download PDF Opens in new tab

Citation

Mary Somerville, Letter, from Mary Somerville to Sir John Herschel, dated at London, 16 September 1844, HS/16/350, The Royal Society Archives, London, https://makingscience.royalsociety.org/items/hs_16_350/letter-from-mary-somerville-to-sir-john-herschel-dated-at-london, accessed on 25 March 2025

Link to this record

https://makingscience.royalsociety.org/items/hs_16_350/letter-from-mary-somerville-to-sir-john-herschel-dated-at-london

Embed this record

<iframe src="https://makingscience.royalsociety.org/embed/items/hs_16_350/letter-from-mary-somerville-to-sir-john-herschel-dated-at-london" title="Letter, from Mary Somerville to Sir John Herschel, dated at London" allow="fullscreen" frameborder="0" width="100%" height="500px"></iframe>

Hierarchy

This item is part of:

Related Fellows

Map

Explore the collection

  • Herschel Letters

    This collection of nearly 10,900 letters, drafts, copies and notes is the largest repository of scientific correspondence from and to Sir John Herschel, leading figure of Victorian science.

    Dates: 1807 - 1875

    View collection