Alice Stewart Ker facts for kids

Alice Stewart Ker (born December 2, 1853 – died March 20, 1943) was a pioneering British doctor. She also taught people about health. Alice was a strong supporter of women's right to vote, known as a suffragette. She was one of the very first women to become a registered doctor in Britain. In fact, she was the 13th woman on the list of the British Medical Association.

Becoming a Doctor: Early Life and Education

Alice Jane Shannan Ker was born in Scotland on December 2, 1853. She was the oldest of nine children. Her father was a minister. When she was 18, Alice moved to Edinburgh to study. She took "University Classes for Ladies." These classes included subjects like anatomy (the study of the body's structure) and physiology (the study of how the body works).

In Edinburgh, Alice met Sophia Jex-Blake. Sophia was trying to get the university to give medical degrees to women. When Sophia's request was turned down, Alice left Edinburgh. She went to Ireland to finish her medical training. There, she earned her medical license from the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland.

Her Medical Career

After finishing her training, Alice returned to Edinburgh. For a year, she shared a medical practice with Sophia Jex-Blake. Alice was the 13th woman in Britain to be officially registered as a doctor.

Further Studies and Work

Alice then studied for another year in Bern, Switzerland. Her aunts, Flora Stevenson and Louisa Stevenson, helped pay for her studies. When she came back to Britain, she worked at the Birmingham Children's Hospital. After that, she became a general practitioner (a family doctor) in Leeds. In 1887, she returned to Edinburgh. She worked as a self-employed doctor. She also passed important medical exams, being one of only two women to do so that year.

Doctor in Birkenhead

In 1888, Alice married her cousin, Edward Stewart Ker. They moved to Birkenhead. They had two daughters, Margaret Louise and Mary Dunlop. Their son passed away when he was a baby. Alice was the only woman doctor in Birkenhead. Her practice was very successful.

She also had many other important roles. She was the medical officer for women working at the General Post Office. She was also an honorary medical officer at several hospitals. These included the Wirral Women and Children's Hospital and the Wirral Lying-In Hospital. Alice also gave talks to working-class women in Manchester. These talks were about motherhood. Her talks were later published in a book called Motherhood: A Book for Every Woman in 1891.

Fighting for Women's Rights

In 1893, Alice became involved with the Birkenhead and Wirral Women's Suffrage Society. After her husband died in 1907, she became even more focused on women's right to vote. She became the head of the local Suffrage Society. However, she found them too slow. So, in 1907, she joined the more active Women's Social and Political Union (WSPU) with Alice Morrissey. Alice Ker worked closely with Ada Flatman, who also worked for the WSPU.

Imprisonment for the Cause

In March 1912, Alice was sent to prison. She was one of about 200 women who broke windows at Harrods department store. This action was organized by the WSPU. While in Holloway prison, she was force-fed. This means she was made to eat when she refused food as a protest. Because of this, she became ill and was released early from her two-month sentence.

Alice wrote poetry while she was in prison. Her poems were part of a collection called "Holloway Jingles." This book was published by the Glasgow branch of the WSPU. In Holloway, she also signed The Suffragette Handkerchief. She received a Hunger Strike Medal from the WSPU leaders. Even though she was still working as a doctor, she was asked to leave one hospital.

She moved to Liverpool. There, she encouraged her daughters to help the cause of women's voting rights. Her daughter Margaret followed in her footsteps. In November 1912, Margaret was sentenced to three months in prison. This was for putting a "dangerous substance" in a post box in Liverpool.

Alice later joined the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom. She took a peaceful stance during the First World War. She continued to work as a doctor in London through the Second World War.

Personal Life

Alice Stewart Ker was a vegetarian. She also believed in protecting animals and was against vivisection (experiments on live animals). She passed away on March 20, 1943.

Selected Works

• 1891, Motherhood: A Book for Every Woman

See also

In Spanish: Alice Stewart Ker para niños