First of all, the date does not seem to be questionable for today’s feature. Most sites say July 25, but according to Find a Grave, it is the 26th (and there is a picture to back it up). So I’m not really sure, but I’m going with the 25th even if it’s wrong.
On this date in 1865, Dr. James Barry, noted surgeon, died. He was a military surgeon in the British army. But guess what. He was born originally with the name of Margaret Ann Bulkley. That’s right! He was a she! Why the masquerade? As a woman, she could never have become a noted medical doctor, so she pretended to be a man, and upon her death, it was discovered that he was a she! Among other accomplishments, she was the first British surgeon in Africa to perform a successful Caesarean section. She died of dysentery, and charwoman Sophia Bishop discovered the female body. It was determined years later that she was the niece of James Barry, the painter.
I don’t know about you, but this is practically unbelievable to me! I look at the picture, and I see nothing feminine about her. And I would think her manservant would have known. But who knows?
For more information:
http://blog.mikerendell.com/?p=931
http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/articles/james-barry
http://encyclopedia.tfd.com/James+Barry+%28surgeon%29
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6 Comments
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http://albertnobbs-themovie.com/ is the film’s website, if you want to check it out. 🙂
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Checking it out now. Thanks!
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Interesting tidbit. I wonder how many women over the years did something similar? I was curious about the film Glen Close was in, in which she played a woman who had to be a man for what she wanted to do. Now that you reminded me, I may have to go seek it out. Thanks for sharing.
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I can’t imaigine having to do something like this, and I am so glad that we women don’t have to put on such charades any more. Let me know if you find about the film–it sounds interesting. Thanks for stopping by.
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Wow! This is so clever! I’m so glad we don’t have to pretend to be something we’re not anymore and that women can own their accomplishments. I guess this would have surprised anyone back then. Thanks for sharing!
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I wonder, too. There are probably women who did such things from way back when that we don’t even know about. Thanks for stopping by!
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