Hertha Ayrton

Hertha Ayrton posed standing in the drawing room of her London home, looking to the right as viewed. A book case is shown behind her with pictures above it, including a print of Joseph Wright of Derby’s work A philosopher giving a lecture on the orrery in which a lamp is put in place of the Sun. Before her, a ripple tank used by Ayrton in her study of sand ripples and water vortices. The image is generally considered to mark the award of the Royal Society’s Hughes Medal to Hertha Ayrton in November 1906. Frontispiece to the book Hertha Ayrton 1854-1923: a memoir, by Evelyn Sharp (London, Edward Arnold & Co., 1926). Inscribed below: ‘Russell, Photo. Mrs Ayrton in her Laboratory. LONDON: EDWARD ARNOLD & Co.’ (Phoebe) Sarah [Hertha] Ayrton, née Marks (1854-1923) electrical engineer, physicist and campaigner for women’s rights, was the first female candidate for election to the Fellowship of the Royal Society.