María Isidra de Guzmán y de la Cerda (October 31, 1767 – March 5, 1803) was a Spanish noble and scholar. She is regarded to be the first woman to receive a Doctor of Philosophy in Spain.
Life
She was the daughter of Diego Ventura de Guzmán y Fernández de Córdoba, 7th Marquis de Montealegre, 13th Count of Onate and María Isidra de la Cerda, 14th Duchess of Najera, Grandee of Spain. She was given an unusually good education and described as the child prodigy of the king.
She was given special royal dispensation from Charles III of Spain to study at the humanistic and literary faculty of the University of Alcalá, where she graduated in 1785 as a Doctor of Philosophy. She was named honorary professor of philosophy at the university and called Doctora de Alcala.
