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A photo of Elizabeth Garrett Anderson by Walery –

Top 10 Amazing Facts about Elizabeth Garrett Anderson

Elizabeth Garrett Anderson was a pioneering figure in the fields of medicine and women’s rights. As the first woman to qualify as a physician and surgeon in the United Kingdom, she faced numerous challenges and setbacks due to her gender.

Despite these obstacles, Anderson persevered and eventually became the co-founder of the first hospital staffed by women, the first dean of a British medical school, and the first woman in Britain to be elected to a school board.

In addition, she made history as the first female mayor of Aldeburgh, further cementing her legacy as a trailblazer and advocate for women’s rights. Anderson’s dedication and determination helped to pave the way for future generations of women in the medical profession. In the article are the top ten amazing facts about Elizabeth Garrett Anderson.

1. Newson Garrett was Elizabeth’s father

As the proud father of Elizabeth Garrett Anderson, the trailblazing physician and surgeon who made history as the first woman to qualify in the United Kingdom, Newson Garrett was a man of great accomplishment.

Not content to rest on his laurels, he also pursued a successful career as a businessman and entrepreneur, building a thriving barley and coal merchants business in the quaint town of Snape and constructing a state-of-the-art maltings facility. With a steadfast determination and a keen eye for opportunity, Newson Garrett left a lasting legacy that continues to inspire future generations.

2. The Ancestry and Business Ventures of Elizabeth’s father

Elizabeth Garrett Anderson’s ancestors were ironworkers in East Suffolk, and her father, Newson Garrett, was a successful businessman and entrepreneur. He owned a barley and coal merchants business in Snape and also constructed a successful maltings business. Anderson was born into a family with a strong work ethic and entrepreneurial spirit, which likely played a role in her determination and success.

3. She the second born of eleven children in Anderson’s family

Elizabeth Garrett Anderson was born in Whitechapel, London on June 9, 1836. She was the second of eleven children born to Newson Garrett and his wife, Louisa. Newson Garrett was from Leiston, Suffolk and was a successful businessman and entrepreneur.

Louisa was from London and had a background as an innkeeper. Elizabeth grew up in a large and influential family and was likely exposed to a variety of experiences and opportunities that shaped her worldview and future career aspirations.

4. The Garretts lived in a square Georgian house in Aldeburgh until 1852

Nestled in the quaint town of Aldeburgh, the Garrett family resided in a grandiose square Georgian house, a testament to their flourishing financial status. Newson Garrett, the patriarch of the family and a successful businessman, had overseen the exponential growth of his malting enterprise, leading to the construction of Alde House, a magnificent mansion perched atop a hill.

While it is uncertain how much time Elizabeth Garrett Anderson, the second of eleven siblings, spent within the walls of this opulent residence, it is evident that the family’s prosperity played a pivotal role in shaping the opportunities available to her.

5. Her parents gave her full freedom since she was a teenager

As a child, Elizabeth Garrett Anderson was nurtured in an environment that strongly emphasised excellence and achievement. Encouraged to engage with her community and equipped with the freedom to explore the world around her, Anderson was afforded a wealth of experiences that likely contributed to her success and determination later in life.

It is plausible that Anderson’s upbringing, which exposed her to a range of opportunities and challenges, played a role in her ambition to become a trailblazing physician and her dedication to advocating for women’s rights within the medical profession.

6. She was home-schooled with her sister until she was fifteen

As a young girl, Elizabeth Garrett Anderson received her education at home with her mother due to the lack of a school in her hometown of Aldeburgh. However, when she reached the age of 10, a governess was employed to provide further instruction to Anderson and her sister.

Unfortunately, Anderson did not have a harmonious relationship with her governess, actively seeking ways to outsmart her in the classroom. Eventually, at the ages of 13 and 15 respectively, Anderson and her sister were sent to a prestigious private school in London to continue their education.

7. She was gender discriminated against when she wanted to pursue a career in medicine

Elizabeth Garrett Anderson encountered numerous obstacles and discrimination as she pursued her dream of becoming a doctor. Despite her ambition and aptitude, she was initially denied admission to the Medical School at Middlesex Hospital in London due to her gender. Undeterred by this setback, Anderson persevered, studying privately and earning an honours certificate in chemistry and materia medica.

However, when she applied to other reputable medical schools, she was consistently denied admission based on her gender, a clear example of the pervasive discrimination faced by women seeking to enter male-dominated fields. Despite these challenges, Anderson refused to give up on her dreams and eventually became the first woman to qualify as a physician and surgeon in the United Kingdom.

8. She was the first woman to become a physician and surgeon in the United Kingdom

Elizabeth Garrett Anderson’s determination and resilience allowed her to overcome numerous barriers and become the first woman to attain the esteemed status of a qualified physician and surgeon in the United Kingdom. Through her persistence and tenacity, she was able to exploit a loophole in admissions at the Worshipful Society of Apothecaries, paving the way for future women in the field.

Despite facing discrimination and numerous challenges, Anderson refused to be deterred in her pursuit of knowledge and success. Alongside her fellow trailblazer, Dr Sophia Jex-Blake, Anderson blazed a trail for future generations of female medical professionals.”

9. She was the only woman surgeon and physician until 1876

Elizabeth Garrett Anderson’s groundbreaking achievement as the first woman to openly qualify as a physician and surgeon in the United Kingdom was a testament to her resilience and determination in the face of widespread discrimination. Despite facing numerous barriers and challenges as she pursued her dreams, Anderson refused to be deterred and eventually earned her place in the medical profession.

However, even in the wake of her momentous accomplishment, the society that granted her licence sought to prevent other women from following in her footsteps by immediately altering their regulations.

It was not until many years later in 1876 that a new Medical Act was passed, granting equal licensing opportunities to qualified applicants irrespective of gender. Anderson’s trailblazing efforts and her enduring legacy continue to inspire and empower women in the medical field to this day.

10. She was a human activist

Elizabeth Garrett Anderson was a steadfast advocate for women’s suffrage, having joined the inaugural British Women’s Suffrage Committee in 1866 and later becoming a member of the Central Committee of the National Society for Women’s Suffrage in 1889. In her role as mayor of Aldeburgh, Anderson gave impassioned speeches in support of women’s right to vote.

However, her participation in the movement waned after the death of her husband in 1907, and she eventually withdrew from it due to the growing militancy of some of its members. Her daughter, Louisa, was more actively and fervently involved in the suffrage cause and was even imprisoned for her actions in 1912.