Mary Ward (scientist)

Mary Ward
Mary Ward
	photograph of Mary Ward
Born	Mary King; 27 April 1827; Ballylin, County Offaly, Ireland
Died	31 August 1869 (aged 42); Parsonstown (current day Birr), County Offaly, Ireland
Cause of death	killed by motor vehicle
Resting place	Parsons Family Vault, Old St Brendan’s Church, Birr, County Offaly, Ireland
Other names	M.W.; The Hon. Mrs W.;
Known for	First woman to write a book on the microscope; First person known to have been killed by a motor vehicle;
Spouse	Henry Ward, 5th Viscount Bangor (m. 1854)
Children	8, including Maxwell Ward, 6th Viscount Bangor
Relatives	William Parsons, 3rd Earl of Rosse (cousin)
	Scientific career
Fields	astronomy, entomology, microscopy
Patrons	Sir David Brewster, for whom she was an assistant and illustrator

Mary Ward (née King; 27 April 1827 – 31 August 1869) was an Irish naturalist, astronomer, microscopist, author, and artist. She was killed when she fell under the wheels of an experimental steam car built by her cousins. As the event occurred in 1869, she is the first person known to have been killed by a motor vehicle.

Mary Ward
photograph of Mary Ward
Born	Mary King (1827-04-27)27 April 1827 Ballylin, County Offaly, Ireland
Died	31 August 1869(1869-08-31) (aged 42) Parsonstown (current day Birr), County Offaly, Ireland
Cause of death	killed by motor vehicle
Resting place	Parsons Family Vault, Old St Brendan’s Church, Birr, County Offaly, Ireland
Other names	M.W. The Hon. Mrs W.
Known for	First woman to write a book on the microscope First person known to have been killed by a motor vehicle
Spouse	Henry Ward, 5th Viscount Bangor (m. 1854)
Children	8, including Maxwell Ward, 6th Viscount Bangor
Relatives	William Parsons, 3rd Earl of Rosse (cousin)
Scientific career
Fields	astronomy, entomology, microscopy
Patrons	Sir David Brewster, for whom she was an assistant and illustrator