Parsons, Mary (1813–1885)
Parsons, Mary (1813–1885)
Irish photographer. Name variations: Mary Field; Mary, Countess of Rosse. Born Mary Field, July 21, 1813, at Heaton Hall, Yorkshire, England; died July 22, 1885; dau. of John Wilmer Field; sister of Delia Field (1821–1873, who married Admiral Arthur Duncombe); m. William Parsons, 3rd earl of Rosse (astronomer), July 14, 1836 (died Oct 31, 1867); children: (11, only 4 of who survived to adulthood) Laurence Parsons, 4th earl of Rosse (1840–1929), Rev. Randal Parsons (1848–1936), Hon. Richard Clere Parsons (1851–1923); Sir Charles Algernon Parsons (1954–1931, inventor of the steam turbine engine).
The 1st recipient of the Photographic Society of Ireland's Silver Medal (1859), for best paper negative, joined the Dublin Photographic Society as one of its 1st women members (1856); established the world's earliest known darkroom in her house, Birr Castle, Co. Offaly (June 1842); financed the construction of "the Leviathan of Parsonstown," which was the world's largest reflecting telescope from 1845 to 1917; exhibited photographs of the telescope at Photographic Society's 1st show (1854); after husband's death, moved to London (1870). University College, London, fully restored her telescope (1999).