A Selection to Celebrate 14 Women (Not Found on This Site) — One for Each Day Leading Up to That Romantic Day... A Day for a Date, a Proposition ;)
1. Elizabeth Garrett Anderson was a pioneering physician, surgeon, and social reformer in Britain. She became the first woman in England to qualify as a physician and surgeon and the first female mayor, serving Aldeburgh, Suffolk, in 1908. A committed suffragist, she was also the first woman to earn a medical degree recognized in Britain and gain a license to practice medicine. In 1872, she founded the New Hospital for Women in London, now known as the Elizabeth Garrett Anderson and Obstetric Hospital, to provide medical care for women by women. Beyond her medical achievements, she campaigned for social reform, advocated for women’s access to healthcare and professional opportunities, and mentored generations of women who followed in her footsteps in medicine and public service.
2. Edith Mary Brown was a pioneering physician and educator who founded the Christian Medical College in Ludhiana, India, in 1894 to provide medical training exclusively for women. Her efforts were instrumental in advancing women’s education in medicine in Asia and challenging societal norms. Edith also established clinics and health initiatives aimed at improving maternal and child health, demonstrating a lifelong commitment to community health and women’s empowerment across rural India, and inspiring generations of women medical professionals.
3. Elizabeth Blackwell was the first woman to receive a medical degree in the United States, graduating from Geneva Medical College in New York in 1849. She later served as a professor of gynecology, challenging prevailing norms that excluded women from professional fields. Elizabeth was an outspoken advocate for health reform, women’s rights, and the inclusion of women in medicine worldwide. She also founded the Women’s Medical College of New York, creating opportunities for countless women to pursue careers in medicine despite widespread discrimination.
4. Elizabeth Fry (née Gurney) was an early social and prison reformer and a prominent figure in the Quaker movement for social justice. She advocated for the humane treatment of prisoners and worked to improve prison conditions across Britain. During her prison visits, she taught skills like reading and sewing to help prisoners support themselves, provided babies with warm clothes, and ensured clean bedding for the sick. Beyond prisons, she established charitable initiatives where homeless people could receive food and shelter. Queen Victoria admired Fry, met her several times, and supported her work financially. She married Joseph Fry and had 11 children and 25 grandchildren. Elizabeth toured prisons, documented abuses, and campaigned for reforms emphasizing rehabilitation and humane treatment. Her efforts laid the foundation for modern penitentiary reform and inspired similar movements internationally.
5. Anne Greaves (née Harris) was a pioneering engineer and quarry manager. After the First World War, she developed an artificial “cast stone” using crushed stone and cement to address a shortage of skilled masons. She ran her own quarry and became the first woman member of the Institute of Quarry Managers. Anne also championed safer working conditions and sustainable practices in the quarrying and construction industries, while advocating for the increased participation of women in traditionally male-dominated trades.
6. Clarice Cliff was a ceramic artist and designer who revolutionized the pottery industry in the 1920s with her bold, colorful designs, making art in everyday objects more accessible to the public. Her distinctive Art Deco style influenced home decor and design trends, and her work remains highly collectible today. Clarice was also a trailblazer who challenged gender stereotypes in the arts, inspiring women artists and designers to pursue careers in creative industries.
7. Elizabeth Mallet was a publisher and journalist active in the early 18th century.founded England’s first daily newspaper, The Daily Courant, in 1702, though she ran it for only a short period before selling it to Samuel Buckley, an English publisher and printer who helped establish the paper as a successful daily. In 1744, she published The Female Spectator, often considered one of the first women’s periodicals, which contributed to Enlightenment discussions on rationality and virtue in women’s lives. Mallet’s work helped pave the way for women in journalism and publishing, advocating for women’s intellectual engagement and participation in public discourse.
8. Julia Charlotte Maitland (née Barrett) was an advocate for education who ran a progressive, inclusive boys’ school in Rajahmundry, India, teaching in multiple languages. She emphasized the importance of cultural understanding, literacy, and moral values, fostering a generation of educated youth who contributed to social reform and community development. Julia’s efforts also promoted cross-cultural exchange and women’s literacy in colonial India, and her work was rooted in Christian missionary initiatives.
9. Dorothy Hodgkin (née Crowfoot) was a prominent chemist known for her work in X-ray crystallography. She was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1964 for her contributions to understanding the structures of important biochemical substances, including penicillin, vitamin B12, and insulin. Her research revolutionized medicine and structural biology, enabling the development of new drugs and treatments. Dorothy was also an advocate for women in science, encouraging young women to pursue careers in STEM fields.
10. Gillian Lynne (née Pyrke) was a celebrated dancer and choreographer, known for her work in musical theatre, including productions like Cats and The Phantom of the Opera. She broke barriers for women in choreography and performance, inspiring generations of dancers. Gillian also dedicated herself to arts education, founding dance programs for children and advocating for the importance of arts in education. In recognition of her contributions to theatre, the New London Theatre in London was renamed the Gillian Lynne Theatre in her honor.
11. Vivienne Westwood (née Swire) was an iconic fashion designer known for bringing punk fashion to the mainstream and advocating for sustainable fashion. Her bold, rebellious style challenged societal norms and inspired cultural movements. Vivienne was also a passionate environmental activist, using her platform to promote awareness about climate change and ecological sustainability.
12. Maud Forrester-Brown became Britain’s first woman orthopaedic surgeon in 1917, marking a major breakthrough for women in the medical profession. An English surgeon trained at University College Hospital in London, she went on to hold consultant posts where she advanced the treatment of musculoskeletal disorders, particularly in children. She worked to improve surgical techniques, rehabilitation methods, and long-term patient care, and was widely respected for her clinical skill and dedication. Forrester-Brown also mentored younger women entering medicine, helping to open doors in a specialty long dominated by men. Her achievements paved the way for future generations of female surgeons and secured her place as a significant figure in the history of orthopaedics and women’s medical advancement.
13. Amy Johnson was a pioneering aviator, best known as the first woman to fly solo from England to Australia. She was also one of the world’s first female ground engineers certified to ensure aircraft were airworthy. Her adventurous spirit and technical expertise broke gender barriers in aviation and engineering, motivating women to pursue careers in these fields. During World War II, Amy served in the Air Transport Auxiliary, delivering aircraft for the war effort. Her legacy continues to inspire women in STEM and aviation worldwide.
14. Millicent Fawcett (née Garrett) was a leading suffragist and the younger sister of Elizabeth Garrett Anderson. Through peaceful advocacy and lobbying with the National Union of Women’s Suffrage Societies (NUWSS), which she founded, Fawcett played a crucial role in achieving the Representation of the People Act in 1918 and the Equal Franchise Act in 1928, granting women the right to vote on the same terms as men. She emphasized nonviolent activism, education, and rational persuasion to advance women’s rights, leaving a lasting legacy in the British suffrage movement.