Mary Fergusson

Edinburgh’s School of Engineering, Mayfield Road, Edinburgh, EH9 3JL

Mary (Molly) Fergusson (1914 – 1997) was a British civil engineer, the first woman awarded a fellowship of the Institution of Civil Engineers. She graduated from the University of Edinburgh in 1936 and went on to work at Blyth and Blyth of Edinburgh. She was personally responsible for a number of engineering projects, including bridges, paper mills and water purification works. She became a partner in Blyth and Blyth in 1948, the first woman to achieve this position in a civil engineering consultancy. She encouraged women into engineering profession, establishing a bursary and working with the Women’s Engineering Society, as well as other organisations. She is remembered by this plaque at the University of Edinburgh School of Engineering building.

Sources:

• “Mary Fergusson.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 21 Sept. 2023.
• “Notable Alumni: Molly Fergusson (1914-1997).” The University of Edinburgh, Accessed 16 Nov 2023.
• “Mary Isolen (Molly) Fergusson” Scottish Engineering Hall of Fame, 16th November 2023.
• Baker, Nina C. “Mary (Molly) Fergusson.” Magnificent Women, 28 Apr. 2019.

Additional links:

• Introducing the Molly Fergusson Initiative, The University of Edinburgh
• Molly Fergusson, The University of Edinburgh
• Mary Isolen (Molly) Fergusson, Scottish Engineering Hall of Fame