Marie Maynard Daly | First African-American woman to gain a PhD in chemistry

Marie Maynard Daly became the first African American woman to gain a doctorate in chemistry in the United States, in 1947. Later, as a biochemist, she helped to discover the link between high cholesterol and clogged arteries, essential for our understanding of heart disease. Daly was born in Queens, New York, on 16 April 1921, … Read more

Marie Paulze Lavoisier | French chemist and noblewoman

Marie Paulze was only 13 when she married the wealthy French lawyer Antoine Lavoisier, and she immediately started learning English so that she could act as the scientific go-between for his true passion in life – chemistry. Soon she was presiding over one of Paris’s most influential salons, hosting visitors such as Benjamin Franklin and James Watt. Relying … Read more