Biography Category
Name :
Elizabeth Blackwell
Date :
Views :
545
Category :
Birth Date :
18/09/2026
Birth Place :
Bristol, Englan
Death Date :
May 31, 1910
[b]Mr. Blackwell [/b] did not live very long after their arrival in Cincinnati, however. He died in debt, and with the majority of his children underage. Elizabeth, 17, and her two older sisters, began a boarding school in their home, the Cincinnati English and French Academy for Young Ladies in order to support the family. Elizabeth quickly realized that she did not enjoy teaching, but there did not seem to be any other option open to her.[br /]
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[b]Elizabeth Blackwell[/b] was born on February 3, 1821 near Bristol, England. Her parents were Samuel and Hannah Blackwell, who were wealthy owners of a sugar refinery. Elizabeth was educated at home because her family did not belong to the Church of England, which controlled the schools.[br /]
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When the family’s sugar refining business burned down in 1832, the family moved to America. The family settled in New York City where Blackwell’s father became involved in the antislavery movement. After suffering financial losses in 1838, the family moved to Cincinnati, Ohio. Shortly after arriving in Ohio, Blackwell’s father died and her mother opened a boarding school to support the family. Blackwell taught at the school for four years.[br /]
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The turning point in Blackwell’s life came after a conversation she had with a friend who was dying of cancer. Her friend believed that women physicians would be better able to care for women patients. She encouraged Elizabeth to study medicine. Elizabeth was at first reluctant, but because of her belief in the education of women, she decided to pursue a career in medicine. In her autobiography, she wrote, “The idea of winning a doctor’s degree gradually assumed the aspect of a great moral struggle, and the moral fight possessed immense attraction for me.”[br /]
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Blackwell taught in North and South Carolina schools to pay for medical school. She studied privately with male physicians and began to apply to medical schools in 1847. After being rejected by major medical schools, she was accepted by the Geneva Medical College in New York State. When Blackwell was first admitted to the College, she was not taken seriously. However, as a result of her intelligence and determination, she became one of the most admired students in her class. In 1849, she graduated and became the first woman medical doctor.[br /]
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When the family’s sugar refining business burned down in 1832, the family moved to America. The family settled in New York City where Blackwell’s father became involved in the antislavery movement. After suffering financial losses in 1838, the family moved to Cincinnati, Ohio. Shortly after arriving in Ohio, Blackwell’s father died and her mother opened a boarding school to support the family. Blackwell taught at the school for four years.[br /]
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The turning point in Blackwell’s life came after a conversation she had with a friend who was dying of cancer. Her friend believed that women physicians would be better able to care for women patients. She encouraged Elizabeth to study medicine. Elizabeth was at first reluctant, but because of her belief in the education of women, she decided to pursue a career in medicine. In her autobiography, she wrote, “The idea of winning a doctor’s degree gradually assumed the aspect of a great moral struggle, and the moral fight possessed immense attraction for me.”[br /]
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Blackwell taught in North and South Carolina schools to pay for medical school. She studied privately with male physicians and began to apply to medical schools in 1847. After being rejected by major medical schools, she was accepted by the Geneva Medical College in New York State. When Blackwell was first admitted to the College, she was not taken seriously. However, as a result of her intelligence and determination, she became one of the most admired students in her class. In 1849, she graduated and became the first woman medical doctor.[br /]
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Blackwell desired to become a surgeon and went to France to further her medical studies. France was a leader in the field of clinical medicine. French physicians believed in carefully observing and examining patients in order to diagnose them properly. They used several new instruments to perform their examinations such as the stethoscope for listening to the heart. Blackwell was unable to pursue her studies because of a tragic accident. While washing the infected eye of a patient, contaminated fluid spattered into her own eye. Her eye became infected and she lost sight in it.[br /]
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In 1851, after the accident, Blackwell returned to New York. She was unable to find work in a hospital or clinic as a physician because she was a woman. She spent her time instead writing and lecturing on the subject of preventive medicine. She was an advocate for proper nutrition and sanitation practices. To keep her company, she adopted an Irish orphan named Kitty Barry. Kitty remained a devoted child to Blackwell throughout her life.[br /]
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At one of Dr. Blackwell’s lectures, some Quaker women in the audience decided to become her patients. She became well-known and her practice grew. In 1853, she established a clinic for poor women. Blackwell’s sister, Emily, had also become a physician and she joined her at the clinic. In 1857, the clinic became the New York Infirmary for Women and Children.[br /]
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Blackwell spent several years planning for the establishment of a medical school for women. In 1868, she succeeded, and the Woman’s Medical College of the New York Infirmary opened. Blackwell instituted high standards for the college. She offered entrance examinations, conducted a three-year course of study, provided students with practical clinical experience and created an independent examining board of prominent physicians. [br /]
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After establishing the hospital, Blackwell had her sister take over the administration. Blackwell returned to England where she spent the remainder of her life. In 1857, she became char of gynecology at the London School of Medicine for Women in England. In 1907, Dr. Blackwell fell down a flight of stairs and never recovered. She died on May 31, 1910. Dr. Elizabeth Blackwell was a pioneer for women in the field of medicine and because of her contributions to providing medical training for women, the profession has been greatly enhanced. [br /]
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At one of Dr. Blackwell’s lectures, some Quaker women in the audience decided to become her patients. She became well-known and her practice grew. In 1853, she established a clinic for poor women. Blackwell’s sister, Emily, had also become a physician and she joined her at the clinic. In 1857, the clinic became the New York Infirmary for Women and Children.[br /]
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Blackwell spent several years planning for the establishment of a medical school for women. In 1868, she succeeded, and the Woman’s Medical College of the New York Infirmary opened. Blackwell instituted high standards for the college. She offered entrance examinations, conducted a three-year course of study, provided students with practical clinical experience and created an independent examining board of prominent physicians. [br /]
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After establishing the hospital, Blackwell had her sister take over the administration. Blackwell returned to England where she spent the remainder of her life. In 1857, she became char of gynecology at the London School of Medicine for Women in England. In 1907, Dr. Blackwell fell down a flight of stairs and never recovered. She died on May 31, 1910. Dr. Elizabeth Blackwell was a pioneer for women in the field of medicine and because of her contributions to providing medical training for women, the profession has been greatly enhanced. [br /]
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[b]Elizabeth[/b] continued teaching in order to raise the tuition she would need at medical school. She moved to North Carolina in 1845, where she worked in a boarding school during the day, and studied medicine at night with a sympathetic doctor. The following year she moved to South Carolina, and did the same routine. Meanwhile, she applied to medical schools. After 29 rejections, one acceptance was finally sent in 1847--Geneva Medical College in New York State.[br /]
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Geneva had a condition on her acceptance, however. All 129 students would have to approve of her as well. The students quickly voiced their approval, amid much clapping and shouting, and Elizabeth Blackwell became the first female medical student at the college.[br /]
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Hard work and perseverance put her at the top of her class when she graduated in 1849 (medical schools were two-year programs at this time). Even this excellent academic record did not win her a job at any of the US hospitals she applied to. Taking advice from older colleagues, she moved to Paris, to try her luck there. After many rejections, she applied as a midwife-trainee at La Maternite, in order to continue her education, if not her career.[br /]
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While caring for an infant with an eye infection, Dr. Blackwell also became infected. Despite quick treatment, and long weeks of bandaged eyes, she became blind in one eye. Because of the nature of the infection, this eye was eventually removed and replaced by one of glass. This loss was more than a blow to vanity; it put an end to her dreams of becoming a surgeon.[br /]
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Geneva had a condition on her acceptance, however. All 129 students would have to approve of her as well. The students quickly voiced their approval, amid much clapping and shouting, and Elizabeth Blackwell became the first female medical student at the college.[br /]
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Hard work and perseverance put her at the top of her class when she graduated in 1849 (medical schools were two-year programs at this time). Even this excellent academic record did not win her a job at any of the US hospitals she applied to. Taking advice from older colleagues, she moved to Paris, to try her luck there. After many rejections, she applied as a midwife-trainee at La Maternite, in order to continue her education, if not her career.[br /]
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While caring for an infant with an eye infection, Dr. Blackwell also became infected. Despite quick treatment, and long weeks of bandaged eyes, she became blind in one eye. Because of the nature of the infection, this eye was eventually removed and replaced by one of glass. This loss was more than a blow to vanity; it put an end to her dreams of becoming a surgeon.[br /]
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