Who were the Edinburgh Seven?
The Edinburgh Seven were a pioneering group of women who fought for the right to study medicine at the University of Edinburgh. In 1869, they became the first female undergraduate medical students in the UK. Their campaign was a milestone in the struggle for women’s access to higher education.
The seven members
The group was led by the activist, Sophia Jex-Blake. She was joined by six other women; Isabel Thorne, Helen Evans, Edith Pechey, Matilda Chaplin, Mary Anderson and Emily Bovelland. They became known as the Edinburgh Seven.
Campaigning for the right to study medicine
In early 1869, Sophia Jex-Blake sought permission to attend medical lectures at the University of Edinburgh. Despite some opposition, the decision initially went in her favour. However, it was later overturned citing the difficulty and cost of teaching just one woman, who would have to be taught separately to the men. Jex-Blake’s supporters publicised the case, inspiring more women to apply. And so later that year, seven women matriculated in medicine at the university.
During their studies from 1869 to 1873, the women faced significant opposition from other students and the wider institution. Although they were allowed to attend lectures and sit exams, they were often harassed and excluded from many aspects of academic life. The hostility reached a peak in 1870 during the Surgeons’ Hall Riot, where a mob of male students attacked the women as they sat an exam. In the end, the university refused to award any of the seven with a medical degree. But eventually, five of them, including Jex-Blake, were granted degrees by studying abroad.
In 1876, the first legislation was passed in the UK allowing women to be licenced as doctors. And while the road to true equality remained long, this marked the beginning of a new era for women in medicine. Finally, in 1896, the University of Edinburgh awarded its first medical degrees to female graduates.
Paving the way for future generations
Sophia Jex-Blake became the first female doctor to practise in Scotland, and one of the earliest in the UK. She played a key role in establishing two groundbreaking medical schools for women; One in London and the other in Edinburgh. She and her fellow campaigners paved the way for future generations, breaking down barriers in their relentless fight for women’s rights.
