Elena Cornaro Piscopia, Google Doodle on First Woman in World to Receive a Ph.D. Degree

Elena Cornaro Piscopia or Helen Cornaro was a Venetian philosopher and one of the first women to receive an academic degree from a university. Elena Cornaro Piscopia also became the first woman in the world to receive a Ph.D. degree. Today Google is celebrating Elena Cornaro Piscopia's 373rd Birthday with a colorful doodle.

Elena Cornaro Piscopia was born on 5 June 1646 in the Palazzo Loredan at Venice, the Republic of Venice. In 1664, her father was chosen to become the Procuratore di San Marco de supra, the treasurer of St. Mark's, a coveted position among Venetian nobility. Her father tried to arrange betrothals for her several times but she rebuffed each man's advances.

Lady Elena studied Latin and Greek under distinguished instructors, and became proficient in these languages, as well as French and Spanish, by the age of seven. She also mastered Hebrew and Arabic, earning the title of "Oraculum Septilingue". She later studied mathematics, philosophy, and theology.

In 1669, Lady Elena translated the Colloquy of Christ by Carthusian monk Giovanni Lanspergio from Spanish into Italian. She was invited to be a part of many scholarly societies when her fame spread and in 1670 she became president of the Venetian society Accademia dei Pacifici.

Lady Elena devoted the last seven years of her life to studying and charity. She died at Padua in 1684 of tuberculosis and was buried in the church of Santa Giustina at Padua. Lady Elena statue was placed in the university.

Happy Birthday, Elena Cornaro Piscopia!