Medical Pioneer, Social Reformer. She is regarded as being the first British woman doctor (Elizabeth Blackwell preceded her, but Dr. Blackwell, although born in Bristol, received her medical training in America). Born at 1 Whitechapel Road in the East End of London, her family had moved to London from Suffolk and, in March 1871, they returned to their native county. Elizabeth was educated privately. From an early age, it was her ambition to become a doctor and, when asked why she would not be satisfied with being a nurse, replied that she preferred to earn one thousand pounds a year, rather than twenty. She began to study medicine in 1860, but the Colleges of Surgeons and Physicians refused to allow her to take their examinations. She was, however, admitted to the examinations of the Society of Apothecaries and, in 1865, obtained a licence to practice. Later, she passed the medical examinations of the University of Paris and, in 1870, obtained her Medical Degree. On February 9th of the following year, at the Scottish Presbyterian Church in George Street, London, she married James George Skelton Anderson of Aberdeen, a shipowner and the managing director of the Orient Line of Royal Mail Steamers. He died in 1907. They had three children. Margaret died at the age of thirteen months, of meningitis, but Louisa followed her mother into the medical profession, and Alan (1877-1952) became a Conservative M.P. and Controller of the Railways during the Second World War. Elizabeth's great-granddaughter was Winifred Flack, who went on to achieve fame of a sort as the mother of Syd Barrett, guitarist and founder of The Pink Floyd. Another achievement of Elizabeth's was to be the first woman elected as a mayor, of Aldeburgh in 1908. The Hospital for Women in the Euston Road is named in honour of her. This hosptial has now been almalgamated into the new University College Hospital on Euston Road.
Medical Pioneer, Social Reformer. She is regarded as being the first British woman doctor (Elizabeth Blackwell preceded her, but Dr. Blackwell, although born in Bristol, received her medical training in America). Born at 1 Whitechapel Road in the East End of London, her family had moved to London from Suffolk and, in March 1871, they returned to their native county. Elizabeth was educated privately. From an early age, it was her ambition to become a doctor and, when asked why she would not be satisfied with being a nurse, replied that she preferred to earn one thousand pounds a year, rather than twenty. She began to study medicine in 1860, but the Colleges of Surgeons and Physicians refused to allow her to take their examinations. She was, however, admitted to the examinations of the Society of Apothecaries and, in 1865, obtained a licence to practice. Later, she passed the medical examinations of the University of Paris and, in 1870, obtained her Medical Degree. On February 9th of the following year, at the Scottish Presbyterian Church in George Street, London, she married James George Skelton Anderson of Aberdeen, a shipowner and the managing director of the Orient Line of Royal Mail Steamers. He died in 1907. They had three children. Margaret died at the age of thirteen months, of meningitis, but Louisa followed her mother into the medical profession, and Alan (1877-1952) became a Conservative M.P. and Controller of the Railways during the Second World War. Elizabeth's great-granddaughter was Winifred Flack, who went on to achieve fame of a sort as the mother of Syd Barrett, guitarist and founder of The Pink Floyd. Another achievement of Elizabeth's was to be the first woman elected as a mayor, of Aldeburgh in 1908. The Hospital for Women in the Euston Road is named in honour of her. This hosptial has now been almalgamated into the new University College Hospital on Euston Road.
Bio by: Iain MacFarlaine
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