A celebration of 14 creative English women for Valentine's Day, one for each day leading up to the 14th. This list does not include the other women already found on this website.
1. Elizabeth Garrett Anderson
Maiden name Garrett. She was England and Britain's first female physician and surgeon, and first female Mayor (of Aldeburgh, Suffolk), and Suffragist. She was the first woman to earn a medical degree in Britain and become a licensed physician. She advocated for women's rights and established the New Hospital for Women in London in 1872 (now named The Elizabeth Garrett Anderson and Obstetric Hospital).
2. Edith Mary Brown
A pioneering physician and educator, she founded the Christian Medical College in Ludhiana, India, in 1894, which provided medical training exclusively for women. Her efforts were crucial in advancing women's education in medicine in Asia, breaking societal norms and making significant strides toward gender equality in the medical profession.
3. Elizabeth Blackwell
A pioneering figure in the field of medicine, best known for being the first woman to receive a medical degree in the United States. Born in Bristol, England, she and her family immigrated to the United States when she was young. Despite facing significant societal and educational barriers, Blackwell was determined to pursue a career in medicine. In 1849, she graduated from Geneva Medical College in New York, earning her MD degree. Her achievement marked a significant milestone in women's rights and access to education, as it challenged the prevailing norms of her time that largely excluded women from professional fields. After her groundbreaking graduation, she went on to serve as a professor of gynecology, further pioneering women's contributions to medicine.
4. Elizabeth Fry
Maiden name Gurney. An early social and prison reformer, she was instrumental in advocating for the humane treatment of prisoners and improving prison conditions in Britain. She worked tirelessly to implement reforms in the penal system and was a prominent figure in the Quaker movement for social justice. Her influence extended beyond England, as her ideas about prison reform resonated internationally, contributing to a global movement toward more humane treatment of prisoners.
5. Anne Greaves
Maiden name Harris. Produced an artificial building stone for traditional stone working. She ran a quarry and became the first woman member of the Institute of Quarry Managers. She called it “Cast stone” to emphasize that it was made from real stone - using a process of crushed stone and cement and could be made into any shape or size and was uniform throughout. It was in direct response to a shortage of masons and young men entering apprenticeships after the First World War.
6. Clarice Cliff
A ceramic artist and designer, she revolutionized the pottery industry in the 1920s with her bold, colorful designs and artistic approach. She emphasized the importance of art in everyday objects and made pottery more accessible to the masses.
7. Elizabeth Mallet
Founder of England’s first daily newspaper, The Daily Courant, established in 1702, Mallet played a key role in the development of Britain's press. Her publication laid the groundwork for modern journalism and helped establish the importance of regular news reporting, particularly through her role in publishing "The Female Spectator" in 1744, which is often considered one of the first women's periodicals. "The Female Spectator" appeared during the Enlightenment era, a time characterized by increased interest in reason, individualism, and critiques of traditional authority. Mallet's work contributed to these discussions by exploring themes of rationality and virtue in the context of women's lives.
8. Julia Charlotte Maitland
Maiden name Barrett. An advocate for education, she ran a progressive boys' school in Rajahmundry, India. Her commitment to inclusivity, allowing boys of different castes to attend and teaching in multiple languages, highlighted her innovative approach to education.
9. Elizabeth Glover
Maiden name Harris. She brought the first printing press to England's Thirteen Colonies in America in 1638. She established a press in Cambridge, Massachusetts, where she printed Oath of a Freeman (this was a loyalty pledge required of all new members of the Massachusetts Bay Colony), an Almenack, and the Bay Psalm Book with the help of English printer and locksmith Stephen Daye (born in Surrey, England). She married Englishman Henry Dunster (born in Lancashire, England), a puritan clergyman and first president of Harvard University. After Glover's death, the printing press was gifted to Harvard, thus beginning the Harvard University Press.
10. Dorothy Hodgkin
Maiden name Crowfoot. A prominent chemist known for her pioneering work in the field of X-ray crystallography, she was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1964 for her contributions to the understanding of the structures of important biochemical substances, including penicillin, vitamin B12, insulin and myoglobin B12.
11. Gillian Lynne
Maiden name Pyrke. A celebrated dancer and choreographer, she is known for her work in musical theatre, most notably for her choreography in productions like "Cats" and "The Phantom of the Opera." Her innovative choreography and understanding of movement have left a significant mark on the performing arts.
12. Vivienne Westwood
Maiden name Swire. She was an iconic fashion designer, known for her role in bringing punk fashion to the mainstream and for her advocacy for sustainable fashion. Her bold designs and provocative collections have influenced contemporary fashion and culture.
13. Amy Johnson
A pioneering aviator in the 1920s, she was 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, breaking gender barriers in aviation.
14. Millicent Fawcett
Maiden name Garrett. A leading suffragist. It was her and the National Union of Women's Suffrage Societies (NUWSS) who emphasized the contributions of women that were instrumental in achieving the Representation of the People Act in 1918. This act granted voting rights to some women (those over 30 who met property requirements). Through peaceful means and lobbying, Millicent continued her efforts until the passing of the Equal Franchise Act in 1928, which granted women the right to vote on the same terms as men. Millicent was Elizabeth Garrett Anderson's younger sister.
