Jennie Smillie Robertson
Encyclopedia
Jennie Robertson was a Canadian
physician and the first female surgeon in Canada.
Born as Jane Smillie in Hensall, Ontario
, she was the fourth child of Benjamin Smillie (1839–1886) and his wife, Jane Smillie (née
Buchanan) (1849–1906). The family farm was in the Huron Tract
on lot 10, concession 1, in the township of Tuckersmith, one mile north of what is now Hensall, Ontario. She initially became a teacher. She started saving so that she could attend Kingston’s Ontario Medical College for Women (which was absorbed into the University of Toronto
’s medical school in 1906).
She graduated in 1909 but no hospital in Toronto
would take her for her residency so she had to attend Philadelphia's Women's Medical College. In 1911, she returned to Canada and was the first woman in Canada to perform surgery. She was also the first woman to do major gynecological surgery in Canada.
.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
physician and the first female surgeon in Canada.
Born as Jane Smillie in Hensall, Ontario
Hensall, Ontario
Hensall is a community in Huron County, Ontario, Canada. Firmly rooted in the heart of Huron County's rich agricultural land, Hensall is home to three large processing facilities: Thompsons Limited, Hensall Co-op and Cook's Division of Parrish & Heimbecker Ltd...
, she was the fourth child of Benjamin Smillie (1839–1886) and his wife, Jane Smillie (née
NEE
NEE is a political protest group whose goal was to provide an alternative for voters who are unhappy with all political parties at hand in Belgium, where voting is compulsory.The NEE party was founded in 2005 in Antwerp...
Buchanan) (1849–1906). The family farm was in the Huron Tract
Huron Tract
The Huron Tract Purchase also known as the Huron Block, registered as Crown Treaty Number 29, is a large area of land in southwestern Ontario bordering on Lake Huron to the west and Lake Erie to the east...
on lot 10, concession 1, in the township of Tuckersmith, one mile north of what is now Hensall, Ontario. She initially became a teacher. She started saving so that she could attend Kingston’s Ontario Medical College for Women (which was absorbed into the University of Toronto
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
’s medical school in 1906).
She graduated in 1909 but no hospital in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
would take her for her residency so she had to attend Philadelphia's Women's Medical College. In 1911, she returned to Canada and was the first woman in Canada to perform surgery. She was also the first woman to do major gynecological surgery in Canada.
Last years
She married Alex Robertson when she was 70. She died in a nursing home in 1981 at the age of 103 and is buried in Mount Pleasant Cemetery, TorontoMount Pleasant Cemetery, Toronto
Mount Pleasant Cemetery is a cemetery located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.In the early 19th century, the only authorized cemeteries within the city of Toronto were limited to the members of either the Roman Catholic Church or the Church of England...
.