Elizabeth Garrett Anderson

English physician and suffragist

Elizabeth Garrett Anderson (9 June 1836 – 17 December 1917) was an English physician and suffragist, known for being the first woman to qualify as a physician and surgeon in Britain. She was a pioneering figure in the medical profession and a prominent advocate for women's rights.

Early Life and Education

Elizabeth Garrett Anderson's parents

Elizabeth Garrett was born in Whitechapel, London, the second of eleven children of Newson Garrett, a successful businessman, and Louisa Dunnell Garrett. Her family moved to Aldeburgh, Suffolk, where she was educated at home by her mother and a governess. Elizabeth was inspired by the example of her elder sister, Millicent Fawcett, a leading suffragist.

Medical Career

Elizabeth Garrett Anderson

Elizabeth Garrett Anderson's journey into medicine began when she met Elizabeth Blackwell, the first woman to qualify as a doctor in the United States. Inspired by Blackwell, Garrett Anderson decided to pursue a career in medicine, despite the significant barriers faced by women at the time.

Struggle for Admission

Garrett Anderson initially attempted to enroll in medical schools but was rejected due to her gender. Undeterred, she attended lectures at the Middlesex Hospital as a nursing student and studied privately with professors. She eventually passed the Society of Apothecaries' examination in 1865, becoming the first woman to qualify as a doctor in Britain.

Establishment of Practice

In 1866, Garrett Anderson opened the St. Mary's Dispensary for Women and Children in London, which later became the Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Hospital. Her practice focused on providing medical care to women and children, and she gained a reputation for her skill and dedication.

Further Achievements

Elizabeth Garrett Anderson before the Faculty of Medicine, Paris

In 1870, Garrett Anderson became the first woman in Britain to be elected to a school board, serving on the London School Board. She continued her medical education in Paris, earning a medical degree from the University of Paris in 1870. In 1873, she became a member of the British Medical Association, the only woman to do so for many years.

Advocacy and Later Life

Elizabeth Garrett Anderson

Garrett Anderson was a staunch advocate for women's rights, particularly in the field of education and professional opportunities. She was a member of the National Union of Women's Suffrage Societies and worked alongside her sister Millicent Fawcett in the suffrage movement.

In 1908, she became the mayor of Aldeburgh, making her the first female mayor in England. Her contributions to medicine and women's rights were widely recognized, and she continued to inspire future generations of women in the medical profession.

Legacy

Elizabeth Garrett Anderson, M.D

Elizabeth Garrett Anderson's legacy is profound. She paved the way for women in medicine and was instrumental in changing societal attitudes towards women's capabilities in professional fields. The Elizabeth Garrett Anderson School in London is named in her honor, as is the Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Programme, a leadership development program for women in healthcare.

Related Pages

• Elizabeth Blackwell
• Millicent Fawcett
• Women's suffrage in the United Kingdom
• British Medical Association