Octavia Ritchie facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Octavia Ritchie
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| Born |
Octavia Grace Ritchie
January 16, 1868 Montreal, Canada
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| Died | February 1, 1948 (aged 80) |
| Nationality | Canadian |
| Alma mater | Kingston Women's Medical College Bishop's College |
| Occupation | Physician, Suffragist |
| Spouse(s) |
Frank Richardson England
(m. 1897) |
Octavia Grace Ritchie England (born January 16, 1868 – died February 1, 1948) was a Canadian doctor and a strong supporter of women's rights. She made history in 1891 by becoming the first woman to earn a medical degree in Québec.
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Early Life and Schooling
Octavia Grace Ritchie was born in Montreal, Canada. Her father, Thomas Weston Ritchie, was a lawyer. She went to the Montreal High School for Girls.
In 1888, Octavia achieved a great honor. She was the first woman to be the valedictorian at McGill University. This means she was the top student in her graduating class.
Octavia wanted to study medicine at McGill. However, she was not allowed to join because she was a girl. Instead, she went to Kingston Women's Medical College. Later, she moved to Bishop's College. She finished her medical studies there in 1891. This made her the first woman in Québec to get a medical degree.
While studying at Bishop's, Octavia Grace Ritchie and her friend Maude Abbott started an important group. It was called the Association for the Professional Education of Women. This group helped other women who wanted to get advanced degrees, especially in medicine.
A Career in Medicine and Advocacy
After becoming a doctor, Octavia Ritchie worked at Bishop's College. She taught anatomy, which is the study of the body's structure. She also worked as an assistant gynecologist at Western Hospital. A gynecologist is a doctor who specializes in women's health.
After she got married, Octavia focused more on helping others. She became a strong advocate for women's rights. She also worked to improve public health for everyone.
Octavia was a leader in many important groups. From 1911 to 1917, she was the president of the local Council of Women. She also led the Montréal Women's Liberal Club starting in 1921. She was also a vice-president for the National Council of Women of Canada.
She traveled to represent Canada at big international meetings. In 1914, she attended the International Council of Women meeting in Rome, Italy. In 1922, she went to the Pan-American Conference of Women in Baltimore, USA.
Octavia was very active in a group called La Ligue des Droits de la Femme. This group worked hard to get women the right to vote in Québec's provincial elections. In 1930, she even ran for a seat in the Canadian Parliament. She was a candidate for the Liberal party in the Mount Royal area.
You can find some of her original letters at the Osler Library of the History of Medicine at McGill University. These letters tell us more about her life and work.
Personal Life and Legacy
In 1897, Octavia Grace Ritchie married Frank Richardson England. He was also a doctor. They had one daughter named Esther Ritchie England.
Octavia Grace Ritchie England passed away in 1948 when she was 80 years old.
In 1979, the McGill Alumnae, which is a group of women graduates from McGill University, created a scholarship in her honor. It is called the Octavia Grace Ritchie England Scholarship. This scholarship helps new students follow in her footsteps.
The house where the Englands lived on Bishop Street was designed by a famous architect, Robert Findlay. Today, that house is a pub.
See also
In Spanish: Octavia Ritchie para niños
