Historedia
EuropeEvent

Edinburgh Seven begin attending medical lectures

When
1869–1870
Where
University of Edinburgh; Royal Infirmary
Episodes
5

The Edinburgh Seven, led by Sophia Jex-Blake, began studying medicine at the University of Edinburgh in 1869. After Jex-Blake's individual application was rejected, a group application on behalf of five women was accepted. The campaign they fought gained national attention and won them many supporters, including Charles Darwin, though they did not graduate or qualify as doctors.

Episodes

  1. March 1869 · University of EdinburghInitial Application Rejection

    Sophia Jex-Blake applied to study medicine in March 1869. The University Court rejected her application, stating it could not make arrangements for a single lady.

  2. 19 October 1869 · University of EdinburghEntrance Examination

    Five women sat the entrance examination on 19 October 1869, out of 152 candidates, marking the start of their studies.

  3. March 1870 · University of EdinburghFirst Examinations

    In March 1870, the women sat their first examinations in physiology and chemistry, demonstrating their academic progress.

  4. April 1870 · University of EdinburghMixed Class Debate

    In April 1870, the University Court debated allowing women into mixed classes, which would have reduced fees and granted prize eligibility.

  5. 15 November 1870 · Royal InfirmaryClinical Teaching Petition

    The seven women petitioned the Royal Infirmary on 15 November 1870, requesting admission to clinical teaching.

Background and detail

Background. Sophia Jex-Blake initially applied to study medicine in March 1869. The Medical Faculty and Senatus Academicus voted in favor, but the University Court rejected her application, stating the university could not make arrangements 'in the interest of one lady'. Consequently, a second application was submitted on behalf of a group of five women, including Jex-Blake, Matilda Chaplin, Helen Evans, Edith Pechey, and Isabel Thorne.

Matriculation and Early Studies. The group began studying medicine in 1869. Of the 152 candidates who sat the entrance exam on 19 October 1869, five were women. In March 1870, the women sat their first examinations in physiology and chemistry. They were listed in a petition to the Royal Infirmary on 15 November 1870, requesting admission to clinical teaching.

People involved

Sources

  1. Edinburgh Seven Wikipedia, revision of 2026-08-10
  2. Sophia Jex-Blake Wikipedia, revision of 2026-06-29

Machine-drafted from the cited Wikipedia passages and checked by a reviewing model, not by a human editor. Every passage cites the revision it was written from; dates and places follow those passages.