#mathblogs

Born in 1862, Merrill was the first American women to receive a Ph.D. in mathematics.  Having completed the required credits and written an original thesis titled "Multiple Integrals", Merrill sought her Ph.D. Her thesis was primarily concerned with geometric interpretations and coordinate plans. Additionally, in 1883, her work in mathematical astronomy allowed her to track and compute the orbit of a comet. However the board of trustees at Columbia University (the school she had been attending) would not accept her application for her doctorate, despite having the university President at the time being very pro-education for women. The president actually advised her on how to convince the board otherwise and her efforts proved to be successful. In 1886 Columbia University award her a Ph.D. in Mathematics with high honors.