MacRobert, Rachel (1884–1954)

Scottish-American baroness and geologist. Name variations: Lady Rachel or Rachael MacRobert; Rachel Workman; baroness of Crawnmore and Cromar. Born Rachel Workman, 1884, in Worcester, MA; died Sept 1, 1954, at Alastrean House, her home in Tarland, Aberdeenshire, Scotland; dau. of Dr. William Hunter Workman and Fanny Workman (1859–1925, explorer); studied political economy and geology at University of Edinburgh; conducted postgraduate work (mineralogy and petrology) in Oslo, Norway; m. Sir Alexander MacRobert, baronet of Crawnmore and Cromar and founder of the British India Corporation, 1911 (died 1922); children: 3 (all died: 2 while serving in RAF, 1 in a flying accident).

One of the Geological Society of London's 1st 8 female fellows (elected, 1919), moved to India with Sir Alexander MacRobert after marriage (1911); researched in the Kolar goldfields; published a paper about calcite and igneous rocks (1911) and a paper about rocks from the Eildon Hills in Roxburghshire (1914); after husband's death (1922), became director of the British India Corporation; served as an Aberdeen justice of peace; directed the Scottish Chamber of Agriculture; was a president of British Friesian Cattle Society; during WWII, donated funds to the Royal Air Force (RAF) to purchase planes and a Stirling bomber named "MacRobert's Reply" (1941); established the MacRobert Reply Association to assist Scottish youth organizations (1945).