Mary Edwards Walker

Mary Edwards Walker
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Name	Mary Edwards Walker
Caption	Walker in civilian dress, c. 1865
Birth date	November 26, 1835
Birth place	Oswego, New York, U.S.
Death date	February 21, 1919
Death place	Oswego, New York, U.S.
Occupation	Surgeon, abolitionist, prisoner of war, suffragist
Known for	Only woman to receive the Medal of Honor; Civil War surgeon; dress reform advocate
Education	Syracuse Medical College
Spouse	Albert Miller (m. 1855; sep. 1859)

Mary Edwards Walker was an American surgeon, abolitionist, and prisoner of war who served during the American Civil War. She is the only woman to have ever received the Medal of Honor, the United States military's highest decoration for valor. A pioneering advocate for women's rights and dress reform, her life was marked by a relentless challenge to the gender norms of Victorian America.

Early life and education

She was born on November 26, 1835, in Oswego, New York, to Alvah and Vesta Whitcomb Walker. Her parents were progressive abolitionists, and their farm on the shore of Lake Ontario was a stop on the Underground Railroad. Encouraged to think independently, she and her sisters were freed from the restrictive corsets and heavy skirts typical of the era. She worked as a teacher in Minetto, New York, to fund her medical education, graduating with a Doctor of Medicine degree from Syracuse Medical College in 1855, one of very few female physicians in the country at the time.

Medical career and Civil War service

After graduation, she established a private practice in Rome, New York, with her husband, fellow physician Albert Miller, though the practice struggled due to public prejudice against female doctors. At the outbreak of the American Civil War, she volunteered for the Union Army but was initially rejected for a commission as a medical officer. Undeterred, she served as an unpaid volunteer surgeon at the Patent office hospital in Washington, D.C., and later at field hospitals following battles such as the First Battle of Bull Run. In 1863, her persistent efforts led to a contract surgeon appointment with the 52nd Ohio Infantry. In April 1864, she was captured by Confederate troops and imprisoned at Castle Thunder in Richmond, Virginia, for four months before being exchanged in a prisoner swap for a Confederate surgeon.

Activism and later life

After the war, she became a prolific writer and lecturer on issues of health, dress reform, and women's suffrage. She was a member of the central committee of the National Woman Suffrage Association and frequently wore a modified version of men's clothing, including trousers, a practice for which she was often arrested. Her activism extended to running for political office, including a campaign for a United States Senate seat from New York, and she published works like "Hit" advocating for social change. She spent her later years in Oswego, New York, and Washington, D.C., continuing her advocacy until her death from illness in 1919.

Awards and honors

On November 11, 1865, President Andrew Johnson awarded her the Medal of Honor for her medical service during the war, making her the only woman to ever receive the award. The citation highlighted her service with the 52nd Ohio Infantry and her subsequent imprisonment. In 1917, following a review of Medal of Honor awards, the U.S. Congress revised the standards, and her name was removed from the Army Medal of Honor Roll. She refused to return the medal and wore it every day for the rest of her life. The decision was posthumously reversed by President Jimmy Carter and the U.S. Army in 1977, officially restoring her medal.

Legacy

Her legacy as a trailblazer in medicine, the military, and women's rights endures. The United States Postal Service honored her with a commemorative stamp in 1982. The Mary Edwards Walker Award is presented by the New York State Senate to individuals who contribute significantly to the advancement of women. A U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs medical center in Rome, New York, is named in her honor. Her restored Medal of Honor is on display at the Pentagon, and she remains a powerful symbol of courage and defiance against restrictive social conventions.

Category:American surgeons Category:American Civil War surgeons Category:Recipients of the Medal of Honor Category:American women's rights activists