Women in History · Head-to-head
Lise Meitner vs Frances Perkins
Yes — based on their recorded years, Lise Meitner (1878–1968) and Frances Perkins (1880–1965) were alive at the same time for at least part of their lives.
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Lise Meitner
Lise Meitner was an Austrian-Swedish nuclear physicist who was instrumental in the discovery of nuclear fission, though the Nobel Prize for the discovery was awarded solely to her male collaborator.
Key achievements
- Became the second woman to earn a doctorate in physics from the University of Vienna.
- Was instrumental in the discovery of nuclear fission in 1938.
- Continued groundbreaking research in nuclear physics despite being forced to flee Nazi Germany due to her Jewish heritage.
- Has the element meitnerium named in her honor.
Fast fact
Meitner's essential contributions to the discovery of nuclear fission were overlooked when the 1944 Nobel Prize in Chemistry was awarded solely to her longtime collaborator Otto Hahn, a decision widely regarded by historians of science as a significant injustice.
Full profile of Lise Meitner →Frances Perkins
The first woman to serve in a US presidential cabinet, whose work as Secretary of Labor helped shape key New Deal era labor protections.
Key achievements
- Became the first woman to serve in a United States presidential cabinet in 1933
- Served as US Secretary of Labor for 12 years, the longest tenure in that role's history
- Helped design and implement key New Deal programs, including Social Security
- Advocated for improved labor standards and immigrants' rights throughout her career
Fast fact
As Secretary of Labor under Franklin D. Roosevelt, Perkins helped design major New Deal programs including Social Security and federal minimum wage protections.
Full profile of Frances Perkins →Who lived first, Lise Meitner or Frances Perkins?
Lise Meitner (1878–1968) lived first, before Frances Perkins (1880–1965), based on their recorded years.
Were Lise Meitner and Frances Perkins contemporaries?
Yes — based on their recorded years, Lise Meitner (1878–1968) and Frances Perkins (1880–1965) were alive at the same time for at least part of their lives.
What do Lise Meitner and Frances Perkins have in common?
Both Lise Meitner and Frances Perkins are grouped among our Women in History figures and lived during the Modern Era.