Inspirational Women in History

Feminist, human rights campaigner and child welfare advocate.

Chair of Nursing Studies at Edinburgh 1976–1983.

Lecturer in 1947, Professor of Genetics and Personal Chair in 1967.

James (Miranda) Barry known as the first qualified female British doctor or surgeon?

Sculptor and Edinburgh College of Art graduate.

Internationally renowned sign linguist.

Astronomer, astrophysicist and historian of science.

Attended Edinburgh University to read Zoology and was awarded a B.Sc. in 1923.

The first practising women surgeon in Scotland

The first woman to graduate with BD and PhD degrees from New College.

One of the first women to graduate from the University of Edinburgh.

Successfully campaigned to secure women access to a University education.

The Edinburgh Seven

Industrialist, politician and inventor who became known for her battle with the US taxman.

One of the first woman MPs, prominent socialist, and leading founder of the Open University.

First British woman to qualify as a dentist and first female president of the British Dental Association

One of the first women to be awarded an Medical Degree from the University.

The University's first female science graduate, but also a pioneering feminist and pacifist.

One of the first five women to be elected to the Royal Society of Edinburgh.

Molecular geneticist who helped develop a vaccine against hepatitis B.

First female member of the Edinburgh Mathematical Society and one of the first women to graduate from the University in 1893.

Missionary, child health pioneer, and the first female Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh.

First woman to become an Academician of the Royal Scottish Academy and an influential member of the Scottish art world.

Pioneer in X-rays and superconductivity.

Advocate for women's suffrage and active speaker in Scotland.

First professor of nursing in the UK and first Chair of Nursing Studies in Europe.

The University's first Director of the Nursing Studies Unit in 1956.

Scotland's youngest Suffragette.