Caroline Farner facts for kids

Caroline Farner (1842–1913) was an important Swiss doctor. She was only the second woman in Switzerland to become a doctor. Caroline Farner also worked hard to help women gain more rights in Switzerland.

Early Life and Education

Caroline Farner was born in 1842 in a place called Guntershausen bei Aadorf. She was the youngest of seven children. Her mother was a farmer's wife who also helped people in the area with their health.

When Caroline was 15, her mother passed away. Her older sister then helped to raise her. After finishing school, Caroline worked as a governess in Scotland for eight years. A governess is someone who teaches and cares for children in their home.

Becoming a Doctor

After seeing family members get sick, Caroline decided she wanted to help people through medicine. She had to study very hard to get the necessary school certificate. She even taught herself Latin and mathematics very quickly!

In 1871, she started studying at Zurich University. She worked hard and finished her medical degree in 1877. This made her only the second Swiss woman to become a doctor. After that, she continued her training in other big cities like Vienna, Paris, and Budapest.

Caroline then returned to Zurich and opened her own medical practice. Her practice became one of the biggest in the city. She even offered free medical care to people who couldn't afford it.

Fighting for Women's Rights

Caroline Farner was also a great public speaker. She used her skills to become a leader in the Swiss women's movement. This movement worked to improve life for women.

Under her leadership, the Swiss Worker's Union achieved many things for women. They created a place to help female domestic servants find jobs. They also opened a special clinic for women and a health center in Urnasch. In 1907, she gave this health center to the city of Zurich to be used as a holiday camp for children.

In 1892, Caroline Farner and her friend Anna Pfrunder faced a difficult time. They were wrongly accused of misusing money. This false accusation came from people who did not like the success of the women's movement. Even though there was no proof, Caroline and Anna were held in prison for seven months. They were later found innocent after a long investigation.

Their release brought more support for their cause from women's groups all over Europe. People realized that women needed to have a say in government and justice. This event helped lead to calls for all women to have the right to vote.

Caroline continued her medical practice and her work for women's rights until she passed away in 1913. After Anna Pfrunder died in 1925, their house was given to a club that supports women. They also set up the Anna-Carolina Foundation. This foundation still gives scholarships to female students today, helping them pursue their education.

Caroline Farner's life story has also been written into a novel. It is called I do not Regret Any of my Actions: the Life and Trial of Doctor Caroline Farner.