Anderson, Anne Jane, b 1847 (medical student)
Dates
- Existence: b 1847
Biography
Anne Jane Anderson was the daughter of Anne Urquhart and Charles William Anderson, and sister of Euphemia Cargill Anderson. Anne was a pioneer in the field of higher education for women. She had been one of the first women medical students at Edinburgh University, receiving Merit Certificates for attendance at classes, though not permitted to sit qualifying examinations. Jane gave up her studies on her marriage in 1873 and this incurred the wrath of her fellow-student, Sophia Jex-Blake, who had fought so hard for women to be admitted to Schools of Medicine. In time, Dr Jex-Blake forgave Jane and became good friends with her and her husband, Robert Somerville of Dalkeith and Carcant, Heriot. As it happened, Mrs Jane Somerville's contribution to medicine was to be considerable. She became Honorary Treasurer of the Edinburgh School of Medicine for Women. She was instrumental in starting Bruntsfield Hospital in Edinburgh, staffed by women for women patients, being present on the occasion of a visit to the hospital by King George V and Queen Mary. Three of her daughters married medical missionaries and worked alongside their husbands in China and India; one of her five sons became a doctor; as did eight of her grandsons; and three granddaughters and two great-granddaughters trained as nurses.