Which astronomer became the first woman paid as a professional astronomer in Britain?

Caroline Herschel became the first woman paid as a professional astronomer in Britain.

Herschel began astronomical work by assisting her brother William Herschel, recording observations and helping with calculations. She later became an accomplished observer in her own right and discovered several comets, including the comet now designated 35P/Herschel–Rigollet.

King George III granted her a salary in 1787, making her the first woman in Britain to receive formal payment for astronomical work. This arrangement recognized that her contribution was scientific labor, not merely household or family assistance.

Herschel also compiled catalogs of nebulae and star clusters and received the Gold Medal of the Royal Astronomical Society in 1828. Maria Mitchell, by contrast, was the first American woman to receive an international reputation as a professional astronomer.