Florence Taylor Hildred

alt=Black and white photograph of a woman, Florence Taylor the astronomer, seated in a chair, wearing a checked close fitting high-necked dress and pince-nez. There is a vase of tulips next to her. A studio photograph, taken in Leeds, of Florence Taylor – later Florence Taylor Hildred. From the archives of Leeds Astronomical Society Florence Taylor Hildred (1865–1932) was the first female member of Leeds Astronomical Society and later a pastor for the Unity Society of Practical Christianity in Sacramento, US, where she was the first woman in the city to conduct a marriage ceremony.

Early life Florence was born in Leeds in November 1865, she was the daughter of Charles Henry Taylor, a wealthy iron foundry owner.

Astronomy career Florence joined the Leeds Astronomical Society in 1895. The Society had reformed in 1892 and actively sought to recruit women. Florence wrote and delivered lectures and prepared papers for publication. In 1896, she lectured on Caroline Herschel, publishing it in the Society's Transactions.

Florence married the Yorkshire born farmer, Charles Hildred in Leeds on 2 February 1898. In a letter written on her departure, Florence thanked the Society for a gift of a book and expressed her wish to remain a member of the Society.

Florence kept her ties to the Leeds Astronomical Society. In 1904, she wrote to the Society inquiring about whether they had established a public observatory, and offered to contribute £100 to start the work.