BLACKWELL, ELIZABETH the first woman doctor of medicine, was born at Counterslip, Bristol, Feb. 3, 1821. The daughter of a sugar refiner, who emigrated to New York in Aug. 1832, Elizabeth sought admission in vain to the medical schools of Philadelphia and New York, and eventually secured admission to the medical class at Geneva, Western New York State, graduating M.D. in 1849. She then came to England, and after studying at St. Bartholomew's Hospital and on the con tinent she returned to America, and in spite of much opposition, established in New York in May 1857, a hospital entirely staffed by women and in due course succeeded in founding there a full course of medical education for women. Sophia Jex-Blake was among the first students. Dr. Blackwell returned to England in 1857 to practise. By a bill passed in 1858 a General Medical Council was established to keep a register of duly qualified medical practitioners. Dr. Blackwell had practised in London some little time before the register was compiled, and when she applied for her name to be included, it was found she could not be refused, and thus an important precedent was established. She died at Hastings on May 31, 191o.
See her Pioneer Work: Autobiographical Sketches