Born: 18 June 1845
Died: 21 November 1930
Biography:
Dame Mary Ann Dacomb Scharlieb, DBE (née Bird; 18 June 1845 – 21 November 1930) was a pioneer British female physician and gynaecologist in the late 19th/early 20th centuries. She had worked in India and by her persistence, she returned to the UK to become a qualified doctor. She returned to Madras and eventually lectured in London. She was the first woman to be elected to the honorary visiting staff of a hospital in the UK and one of the most distinguished women in medicine of her generation.
Raised by her grandparents following her mother’s death, Mary Scharlieb experienced a strict Evangelical Christian upbringing. She attended various boarding schools, including one in Manchester and another in New Brighton. At the age of 16, she enrolled at Mrs Tyndall’s School in London, where she received a conventional middle-class education.
At the age of 19, Mary met William Scharlieb, a barrister engaged in his legal studies at the Middle Temple. Despite facing opposition from her parents, Mary persisted in her relationship with William, and they finally married in December 1865. Shortly after their marriage, the couple set sail for India, where William would practice as a barrister in Madras.
While in Madras, Mary became aware of the lack of medical services available for women’s gynaecological health and during childbirth. Determined to make a difference, she decided to gain medical experience and was allowed to train as a pupil midwife. However, her ambition was to attend medical school and become a qualified doctor.
Unfortunately, her husband was initially resistant to the idea of her leaving their young family to study in England, where women were just starting to gain entrance into medical schools. Undeterred, Mary enrolled as one of the first four women students at the Madras Medical College in 1875. In just three years, she acquired her Licentiate in Medicine, Surgery, and Midwifery.
Mary Scharlieb’s next step was to return to England with her children to pursue a degree in medicine. Her motivation was not only personal but also extended to the desire to organize a female-staffed medical service in India. She believed that English institutions were more receptive to training women in medicine who would then serve in other countries, benefiting women in India as well.
Upon her arrival in England in 1878, Mary sought the guidance of Dr (Mrs) Elizabeth Garrett Anderson, the only qualified medical woman until 1877. Dr Anderson, recognizing Mary’s determination, provided her with support and encouragement.
Mary Scharlieb’s perseverance paid off as she became the first woman to join the honorary visiting staff of a hospital in the UK. Her contributions to the field of medicine, especially in gynaecology, were widely recognized, and she became one of the most distinguished women in medicine of her time.
Throughout her career, Mary focused on improving women’s healthcare and advocating for the inclusion of women in the medical field. Her pioneering work as a gynaecologist paved the way for future generations of women doctors and significantly influenced the field of women’s health.
Awards:
– Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE)