Heroes and Cultural Identity Project

SCE Heroes - Dr James Barry

Ms MASQUERADE

DR JAMES BARRY

by Stacey Jackson

Dr James Barry was really a she, as all her life she masqueraded as a man to dedicate her life to medicine and amelioration of human suffering. She was the first woman in Britain to graduate as a medical doctor and her reason for imposture was obvious! It was impossible for a woman to gain a medical degree in the early 1800's.

She also went on to become and officer in the British Army and was almost a celebrity for her skills in surgical operation. Her work mainly consisted of improving sanitary conditions wherever she went for poor commoners. She fought for better food and medical care for prisoners and lepers, as well as soldiers and families.

She served all over the world in India, South Africa, Cape Town, Malta, just to name a few. In Malta she had to deal with the threat of a Cholera epidemic, and she performed the first known caesarean section where mother and child lived. She was a person who cared and had deep compassion for the poorer and less fortunate people. She lived her life with sheer dedication and passion, even known to fight a duel over medical treatment of the poorer class. To me this is what makes her my ultimate science and technology hero.

Stacey Jackson is a science student following a one year university access course in biological sciences.