Elizabeth Blackwell

Elizabeth Blackwell was born on February 3, 1821, in Gloucestershire, England. When she was born the Grimm Brother’s had just created a written collection of fairy tales. Did you know the Republican Party hadn’t even formed yet? Elizabeth Blackwell’s father was Samuel Blackwell, an active abolitionist, so Blackwell likely voted for Abraham Lincoln later in life.

Elizabeth Blackwell wanted to become a doctor. Blackwell studied medicine privately with doctors who were willing to help at first. In 1847 she began looking for a medical school she could attend. Blackwell finally found Geneva Medical College that would take her in as a female student. In January of 1849, she became ranked first in her class, and she became the first woman to graduate from medical school. After school she went to Paris, and in June she entered a course for midwives at La Maternite`. In 1850, Elizabeth joined Bartholomew’s Hospital. In 1853 Blackwell opened a small clinic in a slum district.

Elizabeth Blackwell had to overcome a lot of adversities. While Blackwell was in Geneva Medical College, she was always getting picked on, and everyone thought she was going to fail. When Blackwell entered a course for midwives, she caught an infectious eye disease that left her blind in her left eye. This meant that she lost the hope of becoming a surgeon. Blackwell showed women that they could become doctors. Blackwell wanted to become a doctor, and she became one. Now millions of women are doctors. Blackwell opened up the gate for women to become doctors.

Elizabeth Blackwell had a lot of heroic acts. In 1852 she wrote a series of lectures, The Laws of Life, and the Special Reference to the Physical Education of Girls. In 1859 she became the first woman to have her name placed on the British Medical Register. In 1861 she trained nurses for War Service. In 1868 she worked with Florence Nightingale. In 1871 she helped organize the Nation Help Society. In 1875 she was proclaimed professor of gynecology at the London School of Medicine.

Elizabeth Blackwell was the first women doctor, and an amazing inspiration. Elizabeth Blackwell died on May 31, 1910, in Hastings, Sussex. She led a good life.