Hertha Ayrton

Revolutionary electrical engineer who transformed understanding of electric arcs and hydrodynamics

Phoebe Sarah Hertha Ayrton (1854–1923) broke scientific barriers as the first woman nominated for Royal Society fellowship (rejected due to gender). Her 1902 paper 'The Mechanism of the Electric Arc' solved mysterious arc flickering in street lamps, enabling stable electrical lighting worldwide.

Ayrton's 400+ patented anti-gas fan saved WWI soldiers from chemical attacks, while her wave formation theories remain vital in coastal engineering. The Institution of Mechanical Engineers credits her with pioneering experimental methods now standard in fluid dynamics. Despite facing sexism, she mentored Marie Curie and advocated for women's suffrage through radical writings.