International Women's Day is taking place on March 8 as a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women and to celebrate to take a look at some of the achievements of the best known an most influential woman from the Portsmouth area.
13. Hertha Marks Ayrton
Hertha Ayrton, née Marks was an English engineer, mathematician and inventor who broke the boundaries for women in science. Born Phoebe Sarah Marks on 28 April 1854 on Queen Street, Portsea she adopted the name 'Hertha' after the heroine of an Algernon Charles Swinburn poem who questions the validity of an all-encompassing God. After her father died the six year-old Hertha took the responsibility of caring for her four younger siblings but three years her aunts took her to the school they ran in London where began studying mathematics. She secured a place at Cambridge University's Girton College where she constructed a blood pressure monitor, founded the Girton fire brigade, formed a After university, when she developed and successfully patented 26 inventions, was elected first female member of the Institution of Electrical Engineers, became the first woman to be nominated as Fellow of the Royal Society of London, and was only the fifth person to be awarded the Royal Society's prestigious Hughes Medal. She was also involved in the suffragette movement. Portsmouth International Port's extended berth was also named after her in 2021 and a blue plaque has been placed on the building in Portsea that today stands on the site where Ayrton was born. Photo: -
14. Michelle Magorian
Portsmouth-born Michelle Magorian is best known for her popular children's novel Goodnight Mister Tom which continues to be one of the most celebrated children's books of its kind. She went to the Convent of The Cross school in Waterlooville, known known as Oaklands Catholic School and in 2007 was awarded an honorary doctorate by the University of Portsmouth. Michelle was also no stranger to the Kings Theatre having taken to its stage as an actress under the name Mikki Magorian before she turned her attention to writing children's stories. Michelle lives in Petersfield and continues writing books for children. Photo: Tim P. Whitby/Getty images