Sophia Jex-Blake (1840-1912)

Sophia Jex-Blake was an English Doctor who was one of the first women to study medicine in the UK. She also campaigned for women to access medical education. She started two medical schools for women in London in 1874 and in Edinburgh in 1886.

She applied to study medicine at the University of Edinburgh in 1869. She was rejected. Sophia wrote to the Scottish national newspapers calling for more women to join her. In the end, seven women including Sophia applied to study medicine at the University. They were accepted. They were called “The Edinburgh Seven”.

Some people in charge at the university stopped the women from finishing their studies which meant they couldn’t be awarded their degrees. Many of the women went to finish their studying at European universities and Sophia was awarded her degree by the University of Berne in 1877.

Sophia opened up an outpatient clinic in Edinburgh. This clinic became the Edinburgh Hospital and Dispensary for Women, Scotland’s first hospital for women staffed entirely by women.

Sophia Jex-Blake was in a relationship with Scottish doctor Margaret Todd. After Sophia died, Margaret put together her biography, The Life of Sophia Jex-Blake.