Isabel Thorne
Encyclopedia
Isabel Jane Thorne was an early campaigner for medical education for women.
Born in London
, she married Joseph Thorne, a tea merchant, and went to live in Shanghai
. They are believed to have had five children, including: Isobel (born 1860; became an art student), Mary (born 1861, who became a surgeon after supporting her mother in her campaigns); and Dr. Atwood Thorne, Surgeon to the London Throat Hospital.
Thorne became convinced of the need for women to have female doctors for themselves and their children, especially women living in China
and India
. When the family returned to England in the late 1860s she started a midwifery
training at the Female Medical College in London. Soon she responded to Sophia Jex-Blake
's advertisement calling for women to join her in an attempt to qualify as doctors at Edinburgh University and so Thorne became one of the Edinburgh Seven
. During this time, she won first prize in an anatomy
examination.
After their attempt to graduate in medicine was blocked, Thorne was one of the women who "re-grouped" at the London School of Medicine for Women
. Her diplomatic temperament meant she was a more acceptable honorary secretary than Jex-Blake whose nomination had threatened to stir up controversy. Thorne gave up her own ambition to be a doctor in order to commit herself to helping the school run smoothly and become more solidly established. She kept records and wrote an account of these years which was published in 1905 as Sketch of the Foundation and Development of the London School of Medicine for Women. In 1908 her daughter, the surgeon Mary Thorne who had graduated from the LSMW in 1895, succeeded her as honorary secretary.
, London, in October 1910. Her ashes were interred in Southover churchyard, Lewes
.
Born in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, she married Joseph Thorne, a tea merchant, and went to live in Shanghai
Shanghai
Shanghai is the largest city by population in China and the largest city proper in the world. It is one of the four province-level municipalities in the People's Republic of China, with a total population of over 23 million as of 2010...
. They are believed to have had five children, including: Isobel (born 1860; became an art student), Mary (born 1861, who became a surgeon after supporting her mother in her campaigns); and Dr. Atwood Thorne, Surgeon to the London Throat Hospital.
Thorne became convinced of the need for women to have female doctors for themselves and their children, especially women living in China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
and India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. When the family returned to England in the late 1860s she started a midwifery
Midwifery
Midwifery is a health care profession in which providers offer care to childbearing women during pregnancy, labour and birth, and during the postpartum period. They also help care for the newborn and assist the mother with breastfeeding....
training at the Female Medical College in London. Soon she responded to Sophia Jex-Blake
Sophia Jex-Blake
Sophia Louisa Jex-Blake was an English physician, teacher and feminist. She was one of the first female doctors in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, a leading campaigner for medical education for women and was involved in founding two medical schools for women, in London and in...
's advertisement calling for women to join her in an attempt to qualify as doctors at Edinburgh University and so Thorne became one of the Edinburgh Seven
Edinburgh Seven
The Edinburgh Seven were the first group of women medical students at a university in the United Kingdom. They fought to study medicine at Edinburgh University, in Scotland, and to be allowed to graduate. In 1869 they were allowed to attend specially-arranged classes, but in 1873 they lost a legal...
. During this time, she won first prize in an anatomy
Anatomy
Anatomy is a branch of biology and medicine that is the consideration of the structure of living things. It is a general term that includes human anatomy, animal anatomy , and plant anatomy...
examination.
After their attempt to graduate in medicine was blocked, Thorne was one of the women who "re-grouped" at the London School of Medicine for Women
London School of Medicine for Women
The London School of Medicine for Women was established in 1874 and was the first medical school in Britain to train women.The school was formed by an association of pioneering women physicians Sophia Jex-Blake, Elizabeth Garrett Anderson, Emily Blackwell and Elizabeth Blackwell with Thomas Henry...
. Her diplomatic temperament meant she was a more acceptable honorary secretary than Jex-Blake whose nomination had threatened to stir up controversy. Thorne gave up her own ambition to be a doctor in order to commit herself to helping the school run smoothly and become more solidly established. She kept records and wrote an account of these years which was published in 1905 as Sketch of the Foundation and Development of the London School of Medicine for Women. In 1908 her daughter, the surgeon Mary Thorne who had graduated from the LSMW in 1895, succeeded her as honorary secretary.
Death
Isabel Thorne died at home in Harley StreetHarley Street
Harley Street is a street in the City of Westminster in London, England which has been noted since the 19th century for its large number of private specialists in medicine and surgery.- Overview :...
, London, in October 1910. Her ashes were interred in Southover churchyard, Lewes
Lewes
Lewes is the county town of East Sussex, England and historically of all of Sussex. It is a civil parish and is the centre of the Lewes local government district. The settlement has a history as a bridging point and as a market town, and today as a communications hub and tourist-oriented town...
.
Sources
- Google Books ref. (Sketch of the foundation and development of the London School of Medicine by Isabel Thorne)
- Notice of death of Isabel Thorne (no age at death given), The British Medical Journal, week of 15 October 1910
- SEE: Edinburgh SevenEdinburgh SevenThe Edinburgh Seven were the first group of women medical students at a university in the United Kingdom. They fought to study medicine at Edinburgh University, in Scotland, and to be allowed to graduate. In 1869 they were allowed to attend specially-arranged classes, but in 1873 they lost a legal...