Dorothy Rowntree facts for kids
Dorothy Rowntree (born 16 January 1903 – died 5 February 1988) was a truly special woman. She made history by becoming the first woman in the UK to qualify in naval architecture. This means she was the first woman to be officially trained to design ships! She was also the very first woman to earn an engineering degree from the famous University of Glasgow.
Her Early Life
Dorothy Rowntree was born in Glasgow, Scotland, in 1903. Her father, Robert Stanley Rowntree, worked with ships. He was a surveyor for Lloyd's Register, which is an organization that checks if ships are safe. Dorothy grew up in Kelvinside, a part of Glasgow.
Her University Days
Dorothy started her studies at the University of Glasgow in 1922. She worked very hard and graduated on 24 April 1926. She earned a special degree called a Bachelor of Science in Engineering, with a focus on naval architecture. This made her the first woman to graduate in engineering from that university. It also meant she was the first woman in the entire UK to get a degree in naval architecture.
Her Career and Adventures
After university, Dorothy Rowntree started working at the Fairfield Shipbuilding and Engineering Company. This was a big shipyard where ships were built. Later, she moved to Beirut, which is in Lebanon. From 1928, she worked for Professor Bayard Dodge at the American University of Beirut.
While living in the Middle East, Dorothy wrote an article about her travels. It was published in "The Woman Engineer," a magazine for the Women's Engineering Society. Dorothy was a member of this society, which supports women in engineering. She is even listed among their "Inspiring Women."
Her Personal Life
In Beirut, Dorothy Rowntree met Norman Joly. They fell in love and got married. The couple lived in Palestine and Israel for some time. They returned to Lebanon in 1948. Dorothy and Norman had two sons. Dorothy Rowntree passed away in Hampshire, England, in 1988.
