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© April 2004
revised 15 September 2009

List of women involved with early-modern science & technology

This is a preliminary (not authoritative) list of names, and will be updated with new biographical information as I accumulate it. I have been compiling the list of names over the years from references I run across when doing research. Some of the references include proper names for the women described, but many do not. For example, from Adrian Wilson’s The Making of Man-Midwifery regarding the family of George Ballard:

... his mother was a midwife at Campden, Gloucestershire, and (as Thomas Hearne observed in 1730) his “ingenious sister, who is now 26 years of age, is ... designing to be a midwife by the assistance of her mother, who hath followed that employment many years.” George’s sister had wider interests as well, for she was “very curious in coins and physic,” and “reads very much in physic and history, and procures many of the best books that way”; surely it was her example that inspired George to produce 20 years later his celebration of female accomplishments, the Memoirs of several ladies of Great Britain.

(Wilson 1995, p. 32)

As such, the list is highly selective, since the emphasis on proper names is unable to account for such anonymous figures as the “herb-women” of Newgate Market and Covent Garden; or the “lady of late, I have forgot her name,” described in 1673 by Bathsua Makin as having been “so well skilled in the mathematics that she hath printed divers tables”; or the “little Irish girl, a mathematical prodigy” who was examined at meetings of the Dublin Philosophical Society in early 1685/6 and “bred up” by George Tollet, Professor of Mathematics in Dublin (Tollet was elected F.R.S. in 1678); or the “oldish woman in a hat” who “hath some water good for the eyes” and is known to have treated Samuel Pepys on occasion (in a diary entry for 30 April 1669, Pepys records that she “did dress me, making my eyes smart most horribly, and did give me a little glass of it, which I will use and hope it will do me good”).

Even with its many omissions, the list reveals a surprising diversity of interests, activities, and occupations. The women listed range in social rank from queens to illiterate midwives, with skills that run the gamut from alchemy, astrology, and astronomy to botany, cartography, engineering, engraving, entomology, illustration, instrument manufacture, mathematics, medicine, natural philosophy, pharmacy, niche publication of scientific works, print selling & print publication, technical writing, and zoology.

• Mrs. John Adair (fl. 1723)
  
• Alderson, Katherine (fl. 1658)
  
• Allde, Elizabeth (aka Alldee and All-de; fl. 1627–1636)
  
• Allde, Margaret (fl. 1584–1603)
  
• Allen, Hannah (née Howse; other married name, Chapman; fl. 1632–1664)
  
• Andrews, Elizabeth (fl. 1663)
  
• Apsley, Lucy (née St John; 2nd married name, Francke; c.1589–1659)
  
• wife to Thomas Asbridge
  
• Astell, Mary (1666–1739)
  
• Astry, Diana
  
• Avery, Susanna (aka Susanne)
  
• Awdely, Elizabeth (fl. 1575–1582)
  
• mother to George Ballard
  
• sister to George Ballard
  
• Bannister, Mary
  
• Barbauld, Anna (1743–1825)
  
• Baré, Jeanne (fl. 1776)
  
• Barker, Jane (1652–1727?)
  
• the Barrington women, incl. Mary Gerard (fl. 1628–1632)
  
• Baynard, Ann (1672–1697)
  
• Beales, Edith (fl. 1572) and female descendants
  
• Beckett, Grace (formerly Grace Compton; fl. 1688)
  
• Behn, Aphra (1640–1689)
  
• Bell, Jane (aka Jean; fl. 1653–1655)
  
• Berners, Juliana, Dame (b. 1388; pub. 1486)
  
• Bill, Anne (1588–1621)
  
• Mrs. Birch (fl. 1655)
  
• Blackborn, Jane
  
• Blackwell, Elizabeth (b. c.1700, d. 1758)
  
• Bland, Elizabeth (b. c.1660, d. in or after 1712?)
  
• Blencowe, Ann
  
• Mrs. Blowe (fl. 1655)
  
• Bowshy, Katharina (fl. 1660)
  
• Bourgeois, Louise (c.1563–1636)
  
• Bradstreet, Anne (1612?–1672)
  
• Mrs. Brent (fl. 1655)
  
• Brockman, Lady Anne (fl. 1709)
  
• Brome, Joanna (fl. 1683)
  
• Brown, Elizabeth, Lady (d. 1652)
  
• Bryan, Margaret (fl. 1815)
  
• daughter of Thomas or John Buck, Cambridge bookbinders (fl. 1650)
  
• Mistress Ursula Bucke (fl. 1658–1667)
  
• Burbage, Elizabeth (fl. 1650s)
  
• Burton, Dorothy (d. 1629)
  
• Bury, Elizabeth (1644–1720)
  
• Capel, Mary (Duchess of Beaufort; fl. 1655)
  
• wife of Solomon Carr (fl. 1627)
  
• Carter, Elizabeth (1717–1806)
  
• Cavendish, Margaret (duchess of Newcastle; née Lucas; 1623–1673)
  
• Cellier, Elizabeth (fl. 1670–80s)
  
• Centlivre, Susannah (1667?–1723)
  
• Elizabeth Chanon of Oystberry (fl. 1655)
  
• Charlewood, Alice (née Bailey; 2nd married name, Roberts; fl. 1593–?)
  
• Châtelet, Gabrielle Émilie le Tonnelier de Breteuil du (aka Marquise du Châtelet, and Émilie du Châtelet; 1706–1749)
  
• Mistress Child
  
• Christina of Sweden (d. 1689)
  
• the Grand Duchess Christina
  
• Chudleigh, Lady Mary (1656–1710)
  
• Mrs. Church (fl. 1655)
  
• Clark, Mary (fl. 1678–1700)
  
• Mrs. Cleere (fl. 1655)
  
• Clifford, Lady Anne (1590–1676)
  
• Clinton, Elizabeth (Countess of Lincoln; 1574?–1630?)
  
• Cockburn, Catherine Trotter (1679–1749)
  
• Colden, Jane (1724–1766)
  
• Colinet, Marie (fl. early decades of 17th century)
  
• Colman, Adrian (fl. 1596)
  
• Lady Constable (fl. 1655)
  
• Conway, Anne (3rd viscountess Conway and Killultagh; née Finch; 1631–1679)
  
• Mrs. Conway (fl. 1655)
  
• Lady Cook (fl. 1655)
  
• Mrs. Corbet
  
• Lady Coventry (fl. 1655)
  
• Mrs. Cranmer (fl. 1655)
  
• Creswell, Elizabeth (fl. 1656)
  
• Lady Cromwell (the Lady Protectress, wife of Oliver Cromwell)
  
• Crooke, Elizabeth (fl. 1694–6)
  
• Crooke, Mary (née Tooke; fl. 1652–1685)
  
• Mrs. Parnell Dall (fl. 1655)
  
• Mrs. Dawson (fl. 1655)
  
• Dawson, Gertrude (fl. 1649–1660s)
  
• Dawson, Mary (fl. 1634–1637)
  
• daughter of Dr. Denton
  
• Mrs. Dinne (fl. 1655)
  
• Dodington, Penelope
  
• Doggett, Mary (fl. 1682)
  
• Mrs. Downing (fl. 1655)
  
• Drake, Judith (fl. 1696)
  
• Dunton, Elizabeth (d. 1697)
  
• Duplake, Mercy (fl. 1622)
  
• Mrs. Edwards (fl. 1736)
  
• Egerton, Sarah Fyge (1699/72–1722)
  
• Elizabeth, Princess Palatine (aka Princess Elisabeth of Bohemia; 1618–1680)
  
• Elizabeth I (1533–1603), queen of England and Ireland (1558-1603)
  
• Elstob, Elizabeth (1683–1756)
  
• Mrs. Leonhard Euler (18th century)
  
• Evelyn, Mary (1635–1708/9)
  
• Evelyn, Mary (1665–1685)
  
• “a gentlewoman called Everard”
  
• Francis, Countess of Exeter (fl. 1630)
  
• Fell, Sarah (1642–1714)
  
• Ferrar, Virginia (1626–1688)
  
• Field, Jacqueline (1st married name, Vautrollier; fl. 1587–1611?)
  
• Fiennes, Celia (1662–1741)
  
• Finch, Anne (Countess of Winchilsea; 1661–1720)
  
• Mrs. Firmingham (fl. 1655)
  
• Fitton, Elizabeth (fl. 1817)
  
• Fitton, Sarah (fl. 1817)
  
• Flamsteed, Margaret (c.1670–1730)
  
• Flesher, Elizabeth (aka Fletcher; fl. 1671–1676)
  
• the Widow Foote (fl. 1651)
  
• Mrs. Forster (fl. 1655)
  
• Lady Fortescue (fl. 1655)
  
• Mrs. Francis (fl. 1647)
  
• Freke, Elizabeth (1641–1714)
  
• Suor Maria Celeste Galilei (1600?–1634)
  
• Gater, Sarah (d. 1654)
  
• Gethin, Lady Grace Norton (1676–1697)
  
• Godbid, Anne (fl. 1678–1683)
  
• Gournay, Marie le Jars de (1565–1645)
  
• Green, Katherine (fl. 1626)
  
• Griffin, Anna (aka Anne; fl. 1636–7)
  
• Griffin, Sarah (fl. 1657–1677)
  
• Goodwife Greene (fl. 1647)
  
• Grey, Elizabeth Talbot (Countess of Kent; 1581–1651)
  
• Grierson, Constantia (1706?–1733)
  
• Grymeston, Elizabeth
  
• Mrs. Hagger (fl. 1655)
  
• Halkett, Lady Anne Murray (1623–1699)
  
• Mrs. Harlakenden (fl. 1640s)
  
• Harley, Lady Brilliana (1598?/1600?–1643)
  
• Harris, Elizabeth (fl. 1700)
  
• Harris, Sarah (fl. 1686–1690)
  
• Harrison, Sarah (fl. 1733–1777)
  
• Haselwood, Elizabeth (fl. 1685)
  
• the Widow Hauksbee (fl. 1713)
  
• the Widow Helme (fl. 1617)
  
• Henrietta Maria (1609–1669)
  
• Henryson, Joanna (fl. after 1691)
  
• Hevelius, Elisabetha
  
• Lady Heydon (fl. 1655)
  
• Hildegard of Bingen (1098–1179)
  
• Hoby, Lady Margaret (1571–1633)
  
• Hodgkinson, Elizabeth (fl. 1675)
  
• Holden, Mary (fl. 1688–9)
  
• Holder, Susan (1627–1688)
  
• Holland, Hester (fl. 1621–1623)
  
• Hollis, Madam (fl. 1704)
  
• Lady Honeywood (fl. 1645–1648)
  
• Mrs. Hooker (fl. 1686)
  
• Howard, Aletheia Talbot (2nd Countess of Arundel; 1590–1654)
  
• Howard, Lady Ann (1st Countess of Arundel; 1595–1630)
  
• the Widow Hurlock (fl. 1673)
  
• Hutchinson, Lucy (1620–after 1675)
  
• Mrs. Hutton (fl. 1785)
  
• Huygens, Susanna (d. 1637)
  
• Jacson, Maria (fl. 1797)
  
• Jefferies, Ann (fl. 1626–1696)
  
• Jinner, Sarah (fl. 1658–1664)
  
• Jones, Katherine (aka Lady Ranelagh; b. 1616?, fl. 1640s–1660s)
  
• Mrs. Jones (fl. 1655)
  
• Josceline, Elizabeth (aka Joceline; 1592–1622)
  
• wife to Ralph Josselin
  
• daughter to Ralph Josselin
  
• Juana Inés de la Cruz, Sor (aka Juana Inés de Asbaje y Ramirez de Santillana; 1651–1695)
  
• Jugge, Joan (fl. 1575–1588)
  
• Juliana, Countess-Dowager of Burlington (fl. 1726)
  
• Mrs. Kent (fl. 1655)
  
• Kepler, Katherine
  
• Lady Killegrew (fl. 1655)
  
• Kirby, Anne (fl. 1655)
  
• Kirkall, Elizabeth (fl. 1707)
  
• Dr. Kuffler’s wife (née Drebbel; fl. 1663)
  
• Kunitzin [aka Cunitia], Maria (fl. 1650)
  
• Lawson, Dorothy (d. 1632)
  
• the Widow Lea (fl. 1700–1703)
  
• Leake, Ann (fl. 1682)
  
• Leake, Elizabeth (d. 1721)
  
• Lee, Eleanor Wortley (Countess of Sussex, later Countess of Warwick; d. 1667)
  
• Lennox, Charlotte (fl. 1760–1761)
  
• Mrs. Lindsey (fl. 1655)
  
• Lister, Anna
  
• Lister, Susanna
  
• Lowe, Elizabeth (fl. 1620–1630)
  
• Lady Alice Lucy
  
• M. H.
  
• Mrs. Mabel
  
• Maitland, Elizabeth (countess of Dysart and duchess of Lauderdale; née Murray; 1st married name, Tollemache; bap. 1626–1698)
  
• Makin, Bathsua Reginald (b. 1600, d. in or after 1675)
  
• Mance, Jeanne (c.1607–1673)
  
• Marcet, Jane (1769–1858)
  
• Dame Marian
  
• Masham, Lady Damaris Cudworth (1659–1708)
  
• Mrs. Mason (fl. 1626)
  
• Maxwell, Anne (fl. 1660s–1670s)
  
• Mrs. Maydenhead (fl. 1655)
  
• Lady Maynard (d. 1684)
  
• Meurdrac, Marie (fl. 1666)
  
• Merian, Dorothea Maria Henrietta (aka D.M.H. Graf; married name, Gsell; b. 1678)
  
• Merian, Johanna Helena (b. 1668)
  
• Merian, Maria Sibylla (1647–1717)
  
• Meurdrac, Marie (fl. 1666)
  
• Mildmay, Lady Grace (1522–1620)
  
• Mrs. Miller (fl. 1655)
  
• Mrs. Minne (fl. 1655)
  
• More, Mary (c.1654–c.1713)
  
• Moseley, Anne (fl. 1661–1671, d. 1673)
  
• Mrs. Napper (fl. 1655)
  
• Mrs. Nash (fl. 1655)
  
• Lady Nevill
  
• Newcombe, Dorothy (née Young; 2nd married name, Hutchinson; 1660/61–1718)
  
• Newman, Dorothy (fl. 1685)
  
• Newman, E. (fl. 1594)
  
• Mrs. Newse (fl. 1655)
  
• Mrs. Nichols (fl. 1655)
  
• Norton, Joyce (aka “Iocosam Norton” and “Jacosae Norton” and “Jocosae Norton”; fl. 1630s, d. 1643)
  
• Olyve, Mary
  
• “One of that sex” (fl. 1678)
  
• the Widow Orwin (fl. 1595–1597)
  
• Oxinden, Lady Margaret
  
• the Widow Page (fl. 1674)
  
• Lady Paget (fl. 1655)
  
• Papillon, Jane
  
• mother of Paracelsus
  
• Partridge, Dorothy (fl. 1694)
  
• Paske, Sarah (fl. 1698)
  
• Perrot, Catherine (fl. 1682)
  
• Playford, Eleanor (married name, Walker; fl. 1680s)
  
• Pope, Margaret (fl. 1681)
  
• Potter, Prudence (d. 1689, aged 77)
  
• Purslowe, Elizabeth (fl. 1633–5)
  
• Mrs. Purvey (fl. 1655)
  
• Pyberg, Elizabeth (fl. 1699)
  
• Raworth, Ruth (fl. 1645)
  
• Ray, Elizabeth
  
• Rich, Mary (aka Lady Warwick; 1625–1678)
  
• sister of Elizabeth Rowe
  
• Lady Sadleir (fl. 1680s)
  
• Lady Savil (fl. 1655)
  
• Sawbridge, Hannah (fl. 1681–1686)
  
• Van Schurman, Anna Maria (1607–1678)
  
• the Widow Scott (fl. 1671)
  
• Mrs. Scudamore (fl. 1655)
  
• Sedley, Lady Catherine (fl. 1686)
  
• Seile, Anne (b. 1609?, d. 1678; fl. 1666–1677)
  
• Seller, Elizabeth (fl. 1698, d. 1711)
  
• Senex, Mary (fl. 1749–53)
  
• Sharp, Jane (fl. 1671)
  
• Shears, Margaret (fl. 1664–1671)
  
• Shepard, Ann (fl. 1676)
  
• Shorley, Johane (fl. 1653)
  
• Sidney, Mary (Countess of Pembroke; 1561–1621)
  
• Simmons, Mary (d. 1686/7)
  
• Lady Skreene (fl. 1655)
  
• Somerville, Mary Fairfax (1780–1872)
  
• Sowle, Elizabeth (married name, Bradford; fl. 1685)
  
• Sowle, Jane (c.1631–1711)
  
• Sowle, Jane (1st married name, Hinde; 2nd married name, Bradford; b. 1655?)
  
• Sowle, Tace (married name, Raylton; b. 1666; fl. 1691–1735)
  
• Mrs. Stafford (fl. 1647)
  
• Mrs. Elizabeth Standish (fl. 1655)
  
• Stephenson, Rose
  
• Stevens, Joanna (fl. 1739)
  
• Stone, Sarah (fl. 1702–1737)
  
• Thompson, Mary (née Ratcliffe; 1st married name, Daniel; d. 1700)
  
• Thornton, Alice (1627–1707)
  
• the Widow Thurston (fl. 1640)
  
• Tillinghast, Mary (fl. 1678)
  
• Mrs. Tillotson (fl. 1672–1675)
  
• Lady Tipping (fl. 1667)
  
• Tollet, Elizabeth (b. 1694)
  
• Trimmer, Sarah (fl. 1780)
  
• Trye, Mary (fl. 1675)
  
• Nurse Tucker
  
• Mrs. Vandenhurk (fl. 1728)
  
• the Verney family’s “Aunt Isham” (d. 1667)
  
• Verney, Dame Margaret (d. 1641)
  
• Wakefield, Priscilla (fl. 1790s)
  
• Walker, Elizabeth (1623–1690)
  
• Waltham, Margaret
  
• Ward, Mary
  
• Warren, Alice (fl. 1662–1663)
  
• Warwicke, Isabell (fl. 1572)
  
• Mrs. Wilkinson
  
• Mrs. Williams (fl. 1657)
  
• Williams, Anna (fl. 1766)
  
• Willughby, Emma (fl. 1676)
  
• Mrs. Wilson (fl. 1655)
  
• Mrs. Withers (fl. 1660)
  
• Wolfe, Alice (fl. 1601–1618)
  
• Wolley, Hannah (aka Woolley and Chaloner; b. c.1621, d. in or after 1674)
  
• Mistress Wooton (fl. 1616)
  
• Goodwife Worsted of Calthorp (fl. 1655)
  
• Wright, Alice (fl. 1615)
  
• Wright, Mary (fl. 1663)
  
• Wyndham, Elizabeth (née Bacon; 2nd married name, Mansell; d. by 1617)

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