Person    | Female  Born 3/2/1821  Died 31/5/1910

Elizabeth Blackwell

Categories: Medicine

Countries: France, USA

The first woman to be accepted by the register of the General Medical Council, and also the first woman to receive a medical degree in the United States. Born in Bristol, her family emigrated to the U.S.A. in 1832. After many unsuccessful attempts to get into medical school, she eventually graduated in 1849, first in her class of 150 students.

She travelled to Europe, where she was admitted to La Maternité in Paris, and St Bartholomew's Hospital in London. Back in America, she established the New York Infirmary for Indigent Women and Children. 1868 she returned to Britain and lived in London. 1875-7 she lectured on genecology at the London School of Medicine for Women.

Moved to Hastings in 1879 where she campaigned for women's education and suffrage. Died  at home there in Rock House, Exmouth Place. Buried in Scotland. Hastings Women's History has a good page about her. She figures on the Wikipedia page listing the first women in various medical contexts.

She had a strong personality, and could be quite acerbic about others in her profession, generally women, and Florence Nightingale in particular.

Credit for this entry to: Alan Patient of www.plaquesoflondon.co.uk

This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
Elizabeth Blackwell

Commemorated ati

Elizabeth Blackwell

On their excellent page about Blackwell Hastings Women's History have a parag...

Read More

Other Subjects

Dr Noel Bertram Farman

Dr Noel Bertram Farman

Physician and surgeon. He was a GP in Hampstead for 40 years and his obituary in the British Medical Journal, 7 February 1970 makes him sound a lovely doctor.

Person, Medicine

1 memorial
Theodore Mayerne

Theodore Mayerne

Physician, born Théodore Turquet de Mayerne in Geneva, Switzerland. He studied in Geneva and Heidelberg and moved to Paris where he founded a medical practice and began to support the views of Para...

Person, Medicine, France, Switzerland

1 memorial
St Mark's Hospital

St Mark's Hospital

A hospital specialising in intestinal disorders. Founded by Frederick Salmon to treat patients with anorectal disorders (anus and rectum) - always good to learn a new word. It was one of the first...

Building, Medicine

1 memorial
Normansfield Asylum

Normansfield Asylum

See Lost Hospitals of London for an excellent history of this hospital. Briefly: The White House, a mansion with 5 acres of grounds, was built in 1866.  Dr Langdon Down and his wife Mary bought it ...

Group, Children, Medicine

1 memorial
Sir John Simon

Sir John Simon

Surgeon and public health officer. Born City of London. His name is of French origin which is worth knowing for pronunciation purposes. 1848 appointed the first Medical Officer of Health for London...

Person, Medicine, Social Welfare

2 memorials