James Barry (c.1789-1865) studied Medicine in Edinburgh 1809-12, his final examinations being deferred as he seemed too young. The Earl of Buchan wrote to the University authorities pointing out that the regulations made no mention of a minimum age, and Barry was allowed to sit. He defended his thesis and knowledge of medical cases to […]

Amongst other challenges, one of the greatest obstacles for the Edinburgh Seven was organising medical lectures. It was specified in the Edinburgh University Calendar for 1870 that women would be taught in different classes from men and would pay double the tuition fee to account for the small classes. Lecturers were permitted but not obligated […]

The pioneers of women’s higher education in the UK. The Edinburgh Seven were the first undergraduate female medical students at any British university. Even though Miss Garrett unsuccessfully applied to study medicine in Edinburgh in 1862, it was only seven years later, in 1869, that Sophia Jex-Blake, the leader of the Edinburgh Seven, gained public […]

From Bern to Bombay, Edinburgh to London. Edith Pechey passed medicalexams at the University of Bern in January 1877, her thesis was titled “Upon the constitutional causes of uterine catarrh”. Pechey then joined the College of Physicians in Ireland in May 1877. She worked as a doctor in Leeds and set up the Medical Women’s […]

From higher education in Paris to new medical schools for women in the UK. In 1872 the Court of Session (the supreme civil court of Scotland) ruled that the University of Edinburgh could refuse to give the women degrees and that they shouldn’t have even been admitted in the first place. This marked the end […]

Despite support from some professors, media outlets and the general public (see Supporters post) Sophia Jex-Blake and her group faced fierce opposition from highly influential people in positions of tremendous power. Sir Robert Christison The most well-known, vehement and undoubtedly most authoritative of the Edinburgh seven’s opposers was Sir Robert Christison, a widely respected and […]

Whilst the Edinburgh Seven undoubtedly faced an immense amount of opposition during their attempts to pursue a medical career, they did equally receive a great deal of support. Lecturers // Professor Masson Jex-Blake’s initial unsuccessful application to study medicine at Edinburgh was met with great support from Professor Masson, a Professor of Rhetoric and English […]

Early life From an early age, Elsie Inglis was taught to fight against injustice and inspired with a determination to pursue her dreams. Born on the 16th August 1864, Elsie Maude Inglis spent her early years in India, where her father was employed in the Indian Civil Service. He was a strong supporter of women’s […]