Marion Newbigin

Born in Scotland in 1869, Marion was unable to study medicine at Edinburgh, as the University did not accept women at the time. Instead, in 1891 she took classes at the Edinburgh Association for the University Education of Women, where she was taught by University of Edinburgh staff. 

While this did not lead to a qualification (she moved to London to eventually get her PhD), she started working for the zoologist J Arthur Thomson, who was a lecturer at the School of Medicine for Women.

In 1898, she returned to Edinburgh after completing her education in London, to take up the post of lecturer of biology and zoology at the School of Medicine for Women, taking over from Arthur J Thomson. It is reported that she was a popular lecturer.

While Marion was never officially part of the University itself, either as student or staff, she played an important role in the fight for access to women’s education in medicine. She was a feminist and also a keen critic of empire and of the politicisation of race in her field.

Her commitment paved the way for women's access to a medical education.