Sonia Kovalevsky (Sofia Kovalevskaya) was the first major
Russian female mathematician and the first woman appointed to
full professorship in Northern Europe. She was born in Moscow in
1850. She displayed an aptitude for mathematics from a very
young age; but her father discourage her because he believed
that there was no need for educated women and put a stop to
further mathematical instruction when she turned thirteen. She
continued her mathematical studies secretly. After concluding
her secondary education, Sonia was determined to continue her
studies; however, the closest university that accepted women was
in Switzerland, and young unmarried women were not allowed to
travel alone. She entered a marriage of convenience with
Vladimir Kovalevsky. To pursue her Ph.D. she moved to Germany,
but was obliged to be tutored privately since universities would
not allow women to attend. She was, however, granted her
doctorate, summa cum laude, from Gottingen University in 1874,
having completed three papers, one of w