BACKGROUND

In the early to mid 1800s, women's activities and occupations were strictly limited. Higher education was mostly closed to them, and the very idea of a woman holding such a position as doctor or lawyer was outlandish. Samuel Blackwell, however, did not conform to the rules of society. A prosperous sugar refiner in England, Samuel was a social activist, and supported reform movements like temperance, women's rights, and abolition. The education of his children -- including his daughters -- was very important to him, and he hired private tutors to teach his sons and his daughters equally.

The impact of Samuel Blackwell's cutting edge ideals became evident in the life decisions of several of his children, as they continued to support the abolitionist and women's rights movements. His son Samuel Blackwell married Antoinette Brown, the first ordained female minister. Henry Blackwell married Lucy Stone, a leading women's rights activist. Emily Blackwell was a pioneering physician in her own right. And Elizabeth Blackwell, the third of his nine surviving children, broke through the prejudices of the time and earned for herself the title of the first woman doctor in America.

Elizabeth was born on February 3, 1821, near Bristol, England. However, the family moved to America when she was only 11 -- and it was there that she would end up doing her greatest work. Elizabeth lived a life of service, dedicating herself to helping others, and she left an indelible legacy behind her. Explore the pages in the left-hand sidebar to learn more about this remarkable woman's story!