User:Arlenerhea/sandbox

'''Family life '''

Florence Stoney was born on October 7, 1870 in Dublin, Ireland and later died on the year 1932 at the age of 62. Florence is the second daughter of Margaret Sophia and the famous mathematical physicist, George Johnstone Stoney. Florence had four other siblings; Gerald Stoney, Robert Bindon Stoney, Gerrude Rose Stoney and Margaret Alice Stoney.

Florence’s father, George Stoney was an Irish physicist born in 1826 in Oakley Park, Co. Offaly who became the first science professor in Queen’s College, Galway and later became a secretary in Queen’s University, Dublin for twenty-five years. George Stoney is more known to be the Irish scientist who introduced the idea of “electron”. He was able to estimate the charge of an electron when he experimented with chemical reactions. His estimation however, were incorrect but his calculations lead to further analysis by other scientist at the time. George Stoney is also known for his great work for the improvement of the Irish education in Ireland in general. He is also acknowledged as the person who did much work for women to acquire higher education allowing them to take examination for legal medical qualification. When his wife, Margaret Sophia, died in 1872, George Stoney became responsible for the upbringing of his five children. It was then when George decided to move to London in 1893 with his children to give his daughters better career opportunities that was not available in Ireland at the time.

Florence Stoney and Edith Stoney were both born in Dublin and studied medicine in London in 1893. On the year 1899, Edith became a professor in London School of Medicine where she taught Physics while Florence became a medical electrician. These two sisters were known for their works during the outbreak of World War I. Like other women during this time, they offered themselves as medical services to the Red Cross to help those in need. However, due to their gender they were turned down. Florence and Edith, however did not let this hinder them and by using their scientific background and experience, they were able to set up their own unit to help people. Florence was able to work at the Women’s Imperial Service League in Belgium where she was able to set up her own X-ray unit. Edith on the other hand, served in the League’s committee in London. The work that both sisters successfully achieved were recognized and was later asked to assist in Serbia.

References

- Creese, M. (1998). Ladies in the Laboratory?: American and British women in science, 1800-1900: a survey of their contributions to reserach (pp. 172-174). Lanham, Md.: Scarecrow Press.

- "Obituary: Miss Edith Stoney". Nature. 142 (3585): 103–104. 16 July 1938. Bibcode:1938Natur.142R.103.. doi:10.1038/142103b0. ISSN 0028-0836.

- The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. (2018, July 3) George Johnstone Stoney. Retrieved from https://www.britannica.com/biography/George-Johnstone-Stoney

- Guy, J. (2013). ‘Edith (1869-1938) and Florence (1870-1932) Stoney, two Irish sisters and their contribution to radiology during the World War I’, Journal of Medical Biography, 21, 100-107. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1258/jmb.2011.011067