A rejection letter from Victoria College in 1852 prompted Emily Stowe to seek an education elsewhere, eventually leading her to become the second licensed female physician in Canada. By overcoming institutional exclusion, she secured a path for women in medicine and built a career focused on public health, advocacy, and educational reform across the province of Ontario.
Early Career and Education
Born in Norwich in 1831, Stowe benefited from an upbringing that emphasized literacy and practical skills. She began her working life as a teacher, eventually serving as a principal in Brantford. Her professional pivot toward medicine occurred after her husband, John Fiuscia Michael Heward Stowe, contracted tuberculosis. Denied entry to the Toronto School of Medicine, she attended the New York Medical College for Women, graduating in 1867.
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Stowe established a practice on Richmond Street in Toronto, specializing in the treatment of women and children. In 1879, she faced a criminal charge following the death of a patient, Sarah Lovell, though she was acquitted after a public trial. The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario granted her a formal licence on July 16, 1880, recognizing her long-term experience and previous medical training.
Advocacy and Institutional Reform
Stowe was a key figure in the development of Canadian women's suffrage. She founded the Toronto Women's Literary Club in 1876, which later became the Canadian Women's Suffrage Association. These efforts culminated in the establishment of the Ontario Medical College for Women in 1883. She later served as president of the Dominion Women's Enfranchisement Association until her death in 1903.
Later Years and Legacy
Following a hip injury sustained at the 1893 Columbian Exposition, Stowe retired from her medical practice. Her daughter, Augusta Stowe-Gullen, followed in her footsteps, becoming the first woman to earn a medical degree in Canada. Stowe's impact was formally recognized posthumously with her induction into the Canadian Medical Hall of Fame in 2018 and her designation as a Person of National Historic Significance.
Fast facts
- Born: 1831, Norwich, Canada
- Died: 1903, Toronto, Canada
- Medical degree: New York Medical College, 1867
- Canadian Medical Hall of Fame induction: 2018
- Marriage year: 1856
- Notable role: President, Dominion Women's Enfranchisement Association
Questions readers ask
Was Emily Stowe the first female physician in Canada?
No, she was the second licensed female physician in Canada.
What medical school did Emily Stowe attend?
She studied at the New York Medical College for Women in the United States.
