#31: “My Maid Could Do Better”

In the 1880s, the director of the Harvard Observatory, feeling frustrated with his staff’s performance, used to often exclaim, “My Scottish maid could do better!” In a surprising move, he decided to hire his Scottish maid, Williamina Fleming, to work at the observatory, probably to motivate staff members.

This decision proved to be a significant one as Williamina Fleming went on to make remarkable contributions to astronomy. She discovered tens of thousands of stars, developed a classification system for stars, and even identified numerous variable stars and nebulae. Her groundbreaking work and dedication shattered gender stereotypes of the time and left an enduring legacy in the field of astronomy.