Burbidge, Margaret (1919–)

English astronomer. Born Eleanor Margaret Peachey in Davenport, England, Aug 12, 1919; dau. of Marjorie Stott Peachey and Stanley John Peachey (lecturer in chemistry); University of London, BSc, 1939, PhD, 1943; m. Geoffrey Burbidge (astronomer), 1948; children: Sarah Burbidge (b. 1956).

Distinguished for her research on the creation of galaxies and quasars, became the 1st female director of the Royal Greenwich Observatory; enrolled at University of London (1935); at London Observatory, was assistant director (1943–50) and acting director (1950–51); served as researcher at Yerkes Observatory (1951–53) and California Institute of Technology (1955–57); was associate professor at University of Chicago (1957–62) and associate research physicist at University of California at San Diego (1962–64); was a professor at University of California (1964–84); served as Mauze Rockefeller professor, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (1968); was director of the Royal Greenwich Observatory (1971–73); was a member of the Anglo-Australian Telescope Board (1972–74); appointed Virginia Gildersleeve professor, Barnard College (1974); served as president of American Astronomical Society (1976) and director of Center for Astrophysics and Space Science, University of California (1979–88); was president of American Academy of the Arts and Sciences (1982); named professor emeritus, University of California (1990); with husband, wrote Quasi-Stellar Objects (1967); her research led to the discovery of pulsars and the source of supernovas, and her subsequent observations led to the 1st accurate estimates of galactic masses. Received Helen B. Warner Prize of American Astronomical Society (1959); became a member of Royal Society of London (1964) and American National Academy of the Arts and Sciences (1978); gave Lindsay Memorial Lecture, NASA (1985); received Einstein Medal (1988).

See also Women in World History.