Born: August 16, 1864 (Naini Tal, India)
Died: 1917
Biography:
Elsie Inglis, born Eliza Maud Inglis on August 16, 1864, in Naini Tal, India, was a remarkable Scottish medical doctor, surgeon, teacher, suffragist, and the founder of the Scottish Women’s Hospitals. Her pioneering work and tireless dedication to improving healthcare for women paved the way for future generations of female doctors and revolutionized medical care during times of crisis. Inglis’s impact on women’s history and society as a whole cannot be overstated.
Inglis came from a family of eight siblings, being the second daughter and third youngest. Her parents, Harriet Lowes Thompson and John Forbes David Inglis, were deeply committed to the education of their children, regardless of gender. Inglis and her sister Eva had a vivid imagination, using their dolls to play the role of patients with various ailments. This early exposure to healthcare would foreshadow Inglis’s lifelong passion for medicine and saving lives.
Inglis’s father, a magistrate who served in the Indian civil service as Chief Commissioner of Oudh under the East India Company, instilled in her a strong sense of duty and compassion. Notable for his advocacy of native economic development, his stance against infanticide, and his support of female education, he greatly influenced Inglis’s beliefs and values.
The family eventually returned to Edinburgh, with Inglis receiving a private education in the city. She was part of a successful campaign by schoolgirls to gain access to private gardens in Charlotte Square. However, her plans to pursue a medical career were postponed when she nursed her mother through her last illness and subsequently mourned her death in 1885.
In 1887, Dr. Sophia Jex-Blake opened the Edinburgh School of Medicine for Women, providing an opportunity for Inglis to pursue her long-awaited dream. However, dissatisfaction with Jex-Blake’s teaching methods, coupled with the unjust expulsion of two fellow students, Grace and Georgina Cadell, prompted Inglis and her father to establish the Edinburgh College of Medicine for Women. The institution operated under the auspices of the Scottish Association for the Medical Education of Women, and it received support from influential figures such as Sir William Muir, a close friend of Inglis’s father and the Principal of the University of Edinburgh.
To ensure quality clinical training for the female students, Inglis and her sponsors arranged for them to study under the renowned surgeon Sir William MacEwen at the Glasgow Royal Infirmary. Recognizing the need for specialized care for female patients and the low standard of medical treatment available to them, Inglis was determined to make a difference.
In 1892, Inglis became a Licentiate of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh, the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, and the Faculty of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow, obtaining the Triple Qualification. She immediately set to work advocating for improved healthcare for women, particularly in the areas of maternity care and gynecology.
However, Inglis’s impact on the medical field extended far beyond Scotland. When World War I broke out, she recognized the urgent need for medical aid on the front lines. Inglis founded the Scottish Women’s Hospitals, an organization staffed entirely by women, to provide medical assistance to the war-ravaged countries. These hospitals, staffed by skilled female doctors and nurses, became renowned for their professionalism, expertise, and compassion.
Inglis herself led medical units in Serbia, where she worked tirelessly despite dangerous and challenging conditions. Her determination and dedication earned her recognition not only from her peers but also from the Serbian government. Inglis became the first woman to receive the Serbian Order of the White Eagle, a prestigious honor reserved only for those who have made outstanding contributions to the nation.
Tragically, Inglis’s life was cut short when she passed away on November 26, 1917, during a global influenza pandemic, leaving behind a remarkable legacy. She not only shattered barriers in the medical field but also played a significant role in championing women’s rights and advancing the cause of suffrage. Through her tireless efforts, Inglis paved the way for future generations of women, proving that gender should never be a limitation to one’s potential and that women have an invaluable role to play in all aspects of society.
Awards:
– Serbian Order of the White Eagle