Celebrating female pioneers in RCPI

Today sees the election of the first female President of the College in our 350 year history. It seems a good time to look back at some other female firsts in the history of the College.

On 3 February 1697 one Mrs Cormack became the first women to be awarded a License by the College for ‘practicing ye Art of midwifery in labouring and laying women’. Midwifery at this stage was in a state of flux, with man-midwives increasingly taking over the profession. Catherine Banford received the College’s Licentiate in Midwifery in 1732, but it would be another 145 years before another women would receive a licentiate from the College.

In 1876 the British government past the Enabling Act, which allowed medical education bodies to admit women to their examinations. In January 1877 this College became the first body in the British Isle to take advantage of the Enabling Act when Eliza Dunbar sat the examination for the Licentiate in Medicine. Despite the regard attempt of some on Council to prevent it, Dunbar became the first women to receive the College’s Licentiate in Medicine, and the first since 1732 to receive the Licentiate in Midwifery.

In 1879 the College established a new order of Membership, as a stepping stone between the Licentiateship and Fellowship.  All those already holding Licentiateship could apply for an automatic upgrade to Membership. In 1880 Frances Hoggan became the first female to sign the Membership Roll of the College.

In 1914 Alice Barry submitted an application for Fellowship, causing some consternation in the College, over whether it was possible, or desirable, to admit women to Fellowship. A special meeting was held and it was decided by ballot that it was ‘inexpedient’ to admit women as Fellows. Alice Barry withdrew her application but the issue would not go away. It was raised again and again at meetings, and by October 1915 the original decision had been overturned and the by-laws were changed to say that Fellowship was open to all Members ‘irrespective of sex’.  On St Luke’s Day 1924 Mary Hearn became the first female Fellow of the College. In 1930 Alice Barry received her Fellowship, 16 years after she had first applied.

Today, Mary Horgan, becomes the first female President of the College, elected by her peers. She joins a roll of 141 Presidents, stretching back to John Stearne the founder of the College.