Margaret Georgina Todd (23 April 1859 – 3 September 1918)[1] was a Scottish doctor and writer. She coined the term isotope in 1913 in a suggestion to chemist Frederick Soddy.
Todd was born in Kilrenny, Fife, Scotland, the daughter of James Cameron Todd and Jeannie McBain of Glasgow.[2] She was educated in Edinburgh, Glasgow and Berlin.[3]
This was described by Punch magazine as "a novel with a purpose – no recommendation for a novel, more especially when the purpose selected is that of demonstrating the indispensability of women-doctors". After graduating in 1894, she took her MD in Brussels.
Career
She was appointed Assistant Medical Officer at Edinburgh Hospital and Dispensary for Women and Children but retired after five years.[6]
Her first book was well received. She later published Fellow Travellers and Kirsty O' The Mill Toun in 1896, followed by Windyhaugh in 1898, always using her male pen name, although her real identity was known by then and mentioned in reviews of her books.[5] By 1906, even her publishers added "Margaret Todd, M.D." in parentheses after her pseudonym. In addition to six novels, she wrote short stories for magazines.
Isotopes
Todd was a family friend of chemist Frederick Soddy, then a lecturer at the University of Glasgow. In 1913, Soddy explained to her the research on radioactivity for which he won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1921. He had shown that some radioactive elements have more than one atomic mass, although the chemical properties are identical, so that atoms of different masses occupy the same place in the periodic table. Todd suggested that such atoms be named isotopes, Greek for at the same place.[7][8] This term was accepted and used by Soddy, and has become standard scientific nomenclature.
Personal life
Todd is assumed to have been in a romantic relationship with Dr Sophia Jex-Blake, founder of Todd's university and place of employment.[9] On Jex-Blake's retirement in 1899, they moved to Windydene, Mark Cross, where Todd wrote The Way of Escape (1902) and Growth (1906). After Jex-Blake's death, she wrote The Life of Dr Sophia Jex-Blake (1918) under her own name, describing the fight of women in the 19th century to enter the medical profession. The Times described it as "almost too laboriously minute for the general reader"[1] but it received praise in other publications.[10]
Death and legacy
Todd died aged 59, three months after her book on Jex-Blake was published.[9]
According to one source,[11] she died by suicide; her Times obituary states only that she died in a nursing home in London. After her death, a scholarship was created in her name at the LSMW. She left £3,000 in her will (equivalent to £295,000 in 2021) to be used to promote the advancement of women in medicine.[12]
^ ab"New Books: Windyhaugh. By Graham Travers". Dundee Courier. 16 November 1898. Retrieved 5 August 2017.
^"The late Dr. Maragret Todd" (PDF). The British Medical Journal. 2 (3011): 299. 14 September 1918. doi:10.1136/bmj.2.3011.298-a. S2CID 220153393.
^Nagel, Miriam C. (1982). "Frederick Soddy: From Alchemy to Isotopes". Journal of Chemical Education. 59 (9): 739–740. Bibcode:1982JChEd..59..739N. doi:10.1021/ed059p739.
^Scerri, Eric R. The Periodic Table (Oxford University Press 2007), chap.6, note 44 (p.312) citing Alexander Fleck, described as a former student of Soddy's
^ abSwenson, Kristine (1999). "Intimate sympathy and self-effacement: writing the life of Sophia Jex-Blake". A/B: Auto/Biography Studies. 14:2 (2): 222–240. doi:10.1080/08989575.1999.10815220.
^"The Life of Sophia Jex-Blake". The Scotsman. 10 June 1918. Retrieved 5 August 2017.
^L. Ewan, Elizabeth (2006). The Biographical Dictionary of Scottish Women. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press. pp. 184. ISBN9780748617135.
^"Bequests of Dr. Margaret Todd". Yorkshire Evening Post. 2 December 1918. Retrieved 5 August 2017.
^Todd, Margaret Georgina (29 November 1896). Fellow travellers. Appletons' town and country library,no. 206. D. Appleton and Company – via Hathi Trust.
^Travers, Graham (29 November 1902). The way of escape; a novel by Graham Travers (Margaret Todd). D. Appleton and Company – via Hathi Trust.
^"Review of Growth, A Novel by Travers Graham (Margaret Todd, M.D.)". The Lancet. 1, part 1: 297–298. 2 February 1907. doi:10.1016/s0140-6736(01)51918-2.
^"Review of The Life of Sophia Jex-Blake by Margaret Todd". The Athenaeum (4632): 356–358. August 1918.
Attribution
Wanamaker, John (1902). "Book News Biographies". Book News. Vol. 20 (Public domain ed.). John Wanamaker. - brief biographical information for Margaret Todd
Further reading
Schwartz, Seymour I (2018). From medicine to manuscript: doctors with a literary legacy. Amherst, New York: Prometheus Books.
External links
Media related to Margaret Todd (doctor) at Wikimedia Commons
Classic Chemistry -- Elements and Atoms: Chapter 20 -- Isotopes: Soddy
January 10, 2023
margaret, todd, doctor, margaret, georgina, todd, april, 1859, september, 1918, scottish, doctor, writer, coined, term, isotope, 1913, suggestion, chemist, frederick, soddy, margaret, georgina, todddr, margaret, toddborn, 1859, april, 1859kilrenny, scotlanddie. Margaret Georgina Todd 23 April 1859 3 September 1918 1 was a Scottish doctor and writer She coined the term isotope in 1913 in a suggestion to chemist Frederick Soddy Margaret Georgina ToddDr Margaret ToddBorn 1859 04 23 23 April 1859Kilrenny ScotlandDied3 September 1918 1918 09 03 aged 59 NationalityScottishEducationEdinburgh School of Medicine for WomenKnown forproposing the term isotope Contents 1 Early life and education 2 Career 2 1 Isotopes 3 Personal life 4 Death and legacy 5 Selected works 6 References 6 1 Attribution 7 Further reading 8 External linksEarly life and education EditTodd was born in Kilrenny Fife Scotland the daughter of James Cameron Todd and Jeannie McBain of Glasgow 2 She was educated in Edinburgh Glasgow and Berlin 3 Her brother was James Cameron Todd a British Anglican canon and schoolmaster who founded Michaelhouse school in South Africa 4 A Glaswegian schoolteacher citation needed in 1886 Todd became one of the first students at the Edinburgh School of Medicine for Women after hearing that the Scottish Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons had opened their exams to women She took eight years to complete the four year course because using the pseudonym Graham Travers during her studies she wrote a novel Mona Maclean Medical Student 5 This was described by Punch magazine as a novel with a purpose no recommendation for a novel more especially when the purpose selected is that of demonstrating the indispensability of women doctors After graduating in 1894 she took her MD in Brussels Career EditShe was appointed Assistant Medical Officer at Edinburgh Hospital and Dispensary for Women and Children but retired after five years 6 Her first book was well received She later published Fellow Travellers and Kirsty O The Mill Toun in 1896 followed by Windyhaugh in 1898 always using her male pen name although her real identity was known by then and mentioned in reviews of her books 5 By 1906 even her publishers added Margaret Todd M D in parentheses after her pseudonym In addition to six novels she wrote short stories for magazines Isotopes Edit Todd was a family friend of chemist Frederick Soddy then a lecturer at the University of Glasgow In 1913 Soddy explained to her the research on radioactivity for which he won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1921 He had shown that some radioactive elements have more than one atomic mass although the chemical properties are identical so that atoms of different masses occupy the same place in the periodic table Todd suggested that such atoms be named isotopes Greek for at the same place 7 8 This term was accepted and used by Soddy and has become standard scientific nomenclature Personal life EditTodd is assumed to have been in a romantic relationship with Dr Sophia Jex Blake founder of Todd s university and place of employment 9 On Jex Blake s retirement in 1899 they moved to Windydene Mark Cross where Todd wrote The Way of Escape 1902 and Growth 1906 After Jex Blake s death she wrote The Life of Dr Sophia Jex Blake 1918 under her own name describing the fight of women in the 19th century to enter the medical profession The Times described it as almost too laboriously minute for the general reader 1 but it received praise in other publications 10 Death and legacy EditTodd died aged 59 three months after her book on Jex Blake was published 9 According to one source 11 she died by suicide her Times obituary states only that she died in a nursing home in London After her death a scholarship was created in her name at the LSMW She left 3 000 in her will equivalent to 295 000 in 2021 to be used to promote the advancement of women in medicine 12 Selected works EditGraham Travers Mona Maclean Medical Student Edinburgh and London William Blackwood and Sons 1892 Fellow Travellers 13 1896 Kirsty O The Mill Toun 1896 Margaret Georgina Todd Graham Travers 1899 Windyhaugh D Appleton and company 1899 The Way of Escape 14 1902 Growth 1906 15 The Life of Sophia Jex Blake 1918 16 References Edit a b Dr Margaret Todd The Times London England 5 September 1918 p 9 Scotland Select Births and Baptisms 1564 1950 Death of Dr Margaret Todd Whitstable Times and Herne Bay Herald 14 September 1918 Retrieved 5 August 2017 1871 Scotland Census Retrieved 30 June 2021 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint url status link a b New Books Windyhaugh By Graham Travers Dundee Courier 16 November 1898 Retrieved 5 August 2017 The late Dr Maragret Todd PDF The British Medical Journal 2 3011 299 14 September 1918 doi 10 1136 bmj 2 3011 298 a S2CID 220153393 Nagel Miriam C 1982 Frederick Soddy From Alchemy to Isotopes Journal of Chemical Education 59 9 739 740 Bibcode 1982JChEd 59 739N doi 10 1021 ed059p739 Scerri Eric R The Periodic Table Oxford University Press 2007 chap 6 note 44 p 312 citing Alexander Fleck described as a former student of Soddy s a b Swenson Kristine 1999 Intimate sympathy and self effacement writing the life of Sophia Jex Blake A B Auto Biography Studies 14 2 2 222 240 doi 10 1080 08989575 1999 10815220 The Life of Sophia Jex Blake The Scotsman 10 June 1918 Retrieved 5 August 2017 L Ewan Elizabeth 2006 The Biographical Dictionary of Scottish Women Edinburgh Edinburgh University Press pp 184 ISBN 9780748617135 Bequests of Dr Margaret Todd Yorkshire Evening Post 2 December 1918 Retrieved 5 August 2017 Todd Margaret Georgina 29 November 1896 Fellow travellers Appletons town and country library no 206 D Appleton and Company via Hathi Trust Travers Graham 29 November 1902 The way of escape a novel by Graham Travers Margaret Todd D Appleton and Company via Hathi Trust Review of Growth A Novel by Travers Graham Margaret Todd M D The Lancet 1 part 1 297 298 2 February 1907 doi 10 1016 s0140 6736 01 51918 2 Review of The Life of Sophia Jex Blake by Margaret Todd The Athenaeum 4632 356 358 August 1918 Attribution Edit Wanamaker John 1902 Book News Biographies Book News Vol 20 Public domain ed John Wanamaker brief biographical information for Margaret ToddFurther reading EditSchwartz Seymour I 2018 From medicine to manuscript doctors with a literary legacy Amherst New York Prometheus Books External links Edit Media related to Margaret Todd doctor at Wikimedia Commons Classic Chemistry Elements and Atoms Chapter 20 Isotopes Soddy Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Margaret Todd doctor amp oldid 1107211048, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
