Laura Maria Caterina Bassi was born in Bologna, Italy, into a wealthy family. She began her education at the age of five, first by her cousin, who taught her mathematics, Latin, and French, and later by Gaetano Tacconi, a professor of medicine at the University of Bologna, who taught her logic, metaphysics, and natural philosophy. In 1731, Tacconi invited various scholars from the University of Bologna to examine the intellect of 20 years old Bassi. One of them was Prospero Lorenzini Lambertini (who later became Pope Benedict XIV), who was so impressed that he became her official patron. The following year, she was elected as an honorary member of the Academy of Sciences of the Institute of Bologna, becoming the first woman to join the academy. A month later, she defended her thesis in front of four university professors and received a doctorate in anatomy, which made her, at the age of 21, the first woman to receive a doctorate in science and the second woman to receive a doctorate in philosophy. A few months later, she defended 12 more theses in front of the Senate of the university as a petition to receive a teaching position. Though rejected at first, she eventually was nominated as a professor of natural philosophy, making another history as the first woman in the world to receive a salary as a lecturer. Bassi was not permitted to deliver public speeches but only private lessons. She received funds for the experiments she held at home; she constantly fought for equal teaching rights but to no avail. She explored many fields, including mathematics, mechanics, and chemistry, but her main interest was Newtonian physics. In her research, she became one of the leading figures in Italy to introduce Newton’s physics and natural philosophy. Over the years, she served as a member of numerous literary societies, including the Accademia degli Arcadi di Roma, Universitá degli Apastiti, Firenze, and the Accademia dei Placidi di Recanati. In 1776, at 65, she was appointed Chair of Experimental Physics at the Bologna Institute of Sciences. She died two years later. Read more...