Publicly defending forty-nine philosophical theses in the Palazzo Pubblico on 17 April 1732, Laura Bassi secured a position that effectively broke the academic gender barrier of the eighteenth century. As an Italian scholar based in the Papal States, she navigated restrictive institutional mandates to become the first salaried female university teacher in global history.
Early Academic Formation
Born in 1711 in Bologna, Bassi received no formal schooling, instead undergoing years of rigorous private instruction. From the age of five, she studied Latin, arithmetic, and French, eventually advancing to philosophy, logic, and mathematics under the physician Gaetano Tacconi. This autodidactic approach culminated in her 1732 doctoral degree from the University of Bologna, making her the first woman to hold a doctorate in science.
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Following her graduation, the University of Bologna appointed Bassi as a professor of natural philosophy. Her role was initially limited by regulations prohibiting her from instructing all-male classes. With the support of Prospero Lambertini, later Pope Benedict XIV, she eventually gained permission to conduct private experiments and classes at home. In 1732, she achieved distinction as the first female member of the Academy of Sciences of the Institute of Bologna.
Scientific Contribution and Legacy
Bassi was a primary figure in the popularisation of Newtonian mechanics within Italy. Her professional activities expanded significantly over decades; by 1745, she joined the Benedettini as an additional member. By 1776, she assumed the Chair of Experimental Physics, a post she retained until her death in 1778. She was interred at the Santuario del Corpus Domini in Bologna.
Fast facts
- Born: 1711, Bologna
- Died: 1778, Bologna
- Citizenship: Papal States
- Education: University of Bologna
- Academic focus: Physics, mathematics, anatomy
- Notable work: On air compression
- Burial site: Santuario del Corpus Domini
Questions readers ask
Was Laura Bassi the first woman to earn a PhD?
She was the first woman to earn a doctorate in science and the second woman in the world to earn a Doctor of Philosophy degree.
What subjects did she teach?
Her expertise spanned physics, mathematics, philosophy, anatomy, and biology, with a primary focus on Newtonian mechanics.
Achievements
- Notable work: On air compression
- Affiliated with University of Bologna
- Educated at University of Bologna
- Worked as physicist, university teacher and mathematician
