Britain's First Woman Doctor

A detailed Summary of Britain's First Woman Doctor

Most historians could tell you about Britain's first woman doctor, Elizabeth Garrett Anderson. With her determination and courage to challenge the medical profession she carved the way for many women in the medical field. But what many historians don't know is the facts and story behind whom was actually the truly first woman doctor of England.

Dr. "James" Barry enjoyed a high reputation as a skilled surgeon for over fifty years. The following excerpt from The Manchester Guardian in August of 1865 tells of his accomplishments:

Dr. Barry enjoyed a reputation for considerable skill in his profession, especially for firmness, decision, and in rapidity in difficult operations. The gentleman entered the army in 1813, passed through grades of assistant surgeon and surgeon in various regiments. His professional accomplishments promoted him to the staff at the Cape. In 1840, he was promoted to medical inspector and transferred to Malta. He proceeded from Malta to Corfu were he was quartered for many years...He died there, and upon his death was discovered to be a woman.

When an autopsy revealed that Barry was a woman, the war department and the medical association was so embarrassed that they hid their findings and Dr. Barr

Not a lot was known about the early life of this woman until 1950, when author Isabel Rae convinced the British War Office and the University of Edinburgh to let her see their "Barry Papers".

She made as many enemies as she did friends in her career, but always did as much as she could to improve medical practices wherever she went.

Whoever was "James Barry", she has the distinction of being first- THE FIRST WOMAN DOCTOR of the British Isles. Secondly, on who has carried out a long career in the British Army, displaying professional attributes of the highest order, serving her country in all climates with distinction and she preferred to do so by the only way available in her lifetime, by assuming the outward trappings of the male sex, all the more credit to her courage and pertinacity. A wonderful performance...

After her uncle's death in 1806, the girl had the privilege of visiting Latin American patriot General Miranda and David Stuart Erskine, the 11th earl of Buchan, both who were known to have the best private libraries in London. With the help of Lord Buchan, "James Barry" had no trouble getting admitted into the Edinburgh Medical School at the age of fifteen. This was the same school Sophia Jex Blake tried so desperately to gain entrance to in 1869. If only she had been a man!

It seems that "Dr. Barry" got her name from a man she called "Uncle", James Barry, R.A. He was an Irish painter. This is where his "nephew's" education in anatomy probably began. When she b

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Approximate Word count = 1008
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: History