Elinor Sneshell facts for kids

Elinor Sneshell was an amazing English woman who lived a long time ago, around the year 1593. She was a special kind of doctor called a barber-surgeon during the time of Queen Elizabeth I of England.

Who Was Elinor Sneshell?

Elinor Sneshell was active as a barber-surgeon in England during the late 1500s. A barber-surgeon was a person who could cut hair but also perform small medical procedures. These procedures included things like setting bones or pulling teeth.

In 1593, Elinor was listed in a special record called the "Returns of Strangers in the Metropolis." This record kept track of people from other countries living in London. Elinor was noted as a widow, meaning her husband had passed away.

Her Background

Elinor came from a city called Valenciennes, which is in France. She had lived in London for 26 years by the time she was recorded in 1593. This means she had moved to England quite a while before then.

A Rare Female Surgeon

During Elinor's time, it was very unusual for women to work as surgeons. Most doctors and surgeons were men. Elinor Sneshell was one of only two known women who worked as a barber-surgeon during this period.

The other known female barber-surgeon was Elizabeth Moulthorne, who came from Antwerp. Elinor and Elizabeth were unique because they practiced a profession usually done by men. This makes Elinor Sneshell an important figure in history. She shows that women could have skilled jobs even in times when it was not common.