Elizabeth Blackwell

Date of Birth: February 3, 1821

Zodiac Sign: Aquarius

Date of Death: May 31, 1910

Biography

Elizabeth Blackwell was a pioneering medical doctor and scientist, born in the 19th century, whose determination and achievements paved the way for women in medicine. She was the first woman to receive a medical degree in the United States and a key figure in promoting the education and professional development of women in the medical field. Born in England, Blackwell moved to the United States with her family and initially pursued teaching to support her family. However, she decided to break the gender barriers in medicine after a close friend suffering from a terminal illness suggested that her experience might have been better if she had a female doctor. After facing numerous rejections from medical schools because of her gender, Elizabeth was finally accepted by Geneva Medical College in New York. Despite facing discrimination and ostracism from her male peers, she graduated first in her class in 1849. She went on to establish the New York Infirmary for Women and Children with her sister Emily Blackwell, who also became a doctor, and Dr. Marie Zakrzewska, offering medical care to the poor and providing a training facility for female medical students. Elizabeth Blackwell also played a significant role in the Civil War, organizing nurses and helping to train them. She continued to advocate for the education of women in medicine, lecturing and writing extensively on the subject.

5 Interesting Facts about Elizabeth Blackwell

1. Elizabeth Blackwell was the first woman to receive a medical degree in the United States.

2. She founded the New York Infirmary for Women and Children in 1857.

3. Blackwell was not only a physician but also an active social and moral reformer.

4. She played a pivotal role in organizing nurses during the American Civil War.

5. In 1868, she established a women’s medical college to train women doctors.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Elizabeth Blackwell

1. “If society will not admit of a woman’s free development, then society must be remodeled.”

2. “It is not easy to be a pioneer – but oh, it is fascinating!”

3. “None of us can know what we are capable of until we are tested.”

4. “For what is done or learned by one class of women becomes, by virtue of their common womanhood, the property of all women.”

5. “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.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

Elizabeth Blackwell’s achievements were more social and educational rather than financial. There are no records of her net worth as her focus was primarily on advancing medical education and social causes rather than accumulating wealth.