Louisa Garrett Anderson (1873-1943)

Surgeon and suffragette

Louisa Garrett Anderson was born on 28 July 1873 in London, the daughter of James Anderson, ship-owner, and Elizabeth Garrett Anderson, the first English woman to qualify as a doctor. Louisa studied medicine in Paris and at the London School of Medicine for Women. After qualifying she held posts at the Royal Free Hospital, at clinics in Baltimore and Chicago and as assistant surgeon at the New Hospital for Women. She was an active suffragette who was given six weeks' hard labour for breaking windows. She and Flora Murray set up the Women's Hospital for Children. After the start of the First World War they founded the Women's Hospital Corps which was based in France. Their professionalism was acknowledged and in 1915 they were given charge of the Endell Street Military Hospital in London. As chief surgeon she carried out some 7000 procedures. The results of her clinical research were published in 'The Lancet'. In 1917 she was created CBE in recognition of her contribution. After the war she bought a cottage in Buckinghamshire with Flora Murray and completed a biography of her mother based on family papers. During the Second World War she worked as a volunteer until illness prevented her continuing. She died on 15 November 1943. Louisa Garrett Anderson is commemorated on Flora Murray's gravestone.

1891 Census

Louisa G Anderson, 18, was enumerated with her fellow pupils at St Leonards School - her details are on the third line. The census return for the district of St Andrews and St Leonards in the county of Fife gives her birth place as England. The enumerator's crossings-out while compiling the statistical return make the ages difficult to read.

The previous page provides the name of the school, its headmistress, housekeeper and a visitor.

1891 Census record for Louisa Garrett Anderson (44 and 19 KB jpegs)
National Records of Scotland, 1891/453/8, pages 22 and 21