A Woman Who Lived as a Man to Pursue a Medical Career
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Dr. James Barry, who passed away in 1865, concealed a remarkable secret that was only uncovered after her death: she was a woman. While preparing her body for burial, housemaid Sophia Bishop revealed this shocking truth.
It took five decades for society to understand the true nature of James Barry, and that realization came only posthumously. Barry, who became one of the leading surgeons of the 19th century, adopted a male persona to navigate a world where women were barred from medical education.
The fascination surrounding Barry's life has intrigued many Victorians, prompting discussions about her reasons for maintaining a male identity throughout her life.
Born Margaret Bulkley, she was the daughter of an Irish grocer. Living in a time when women had no access to medical schooling, she was compelled to assume a male identity to pursue her ambition of becoming a surgeon.
Let's explore the intriguing details of how Barry maintained her disguise for so many years.
Background of Margaret Bulkley
Margaret Ann Bulkley was born in Ireland around 1789. Aware of the limitations placed upon her due to her gender, she expressed her frustration at the age of 18, exclaiming to her brother:
> "Were I not a girl, I would be a soldier!"
Margaret moved to London to live with her uncle, James Barry, a member of the royal academy. He recognized her intelligence and potential, exposing her to influential figures in the city.
After her uncle's death, Margaret seized the opportunity to take on his name and enroll in medical school.
Barry’s Time at Edinburgh Medical School
Barry enrolled at the prestigious Edinburgh Medical School in 1809, donning a three-inch shoe insert and a long overcoat. Her classmates noted that she never removed her coat, even in summer, and spoke in a high-pitched voice.
Though some found her peculiar and suspicious, none suspected her true gender. Instead, they assumed she was merely a very young boy due to her short stature and youthful appearance.
On several occasions, Edinburgh authorities attempted to prevent Barry from taking exams, believing her too young. However, influential friends like Lord Erskine ensured she could participate, indicating that her disguise was known to some.
Barry’s Life After Graduation
Following graduation, Barry aimed to practice in Venezuela, where women were permitted to work as doctors. However, lacking resources, she instead joined the British military as a surgeon.
Known for her fiery temper, Barry frequently lashed out at patients and hospital staff alike. Her abrasive manner included shouting at patients for not protecting themselves from the sun and challenging a captain to a duel.
Interestingly, Barry often used flirtation to deflect attention from her gender. On one occasion, when accused of improperly courting a patient’s wife, she reacted violently when someone suggested she behaved more like a woman than a man.
Rumors of Barry’s Affair
James Barry served in Cape Town for nearly a decade, where she developed a close relationship with Lord Charles Somerset, the British governor. Their proximity fueled rumors of an affair, leading to an official investigation, though both were ultimately cleared of any wrongdoing.
Barry Was First to Perform Caesarean Section
As a skilled surgeon, Barry gained acclaim for her exceptional abilities, notably performing a pioneering emergency cesarean section in 1826 without anesthesia, successfully saving both mother and child. She later rose to the rank of general inspector, overseeing military hospitals.
Barry’s Secret Traveling Trunk Hid The Truth
Barry frequently traveled as a military surgeon, carrying a trunk that concealed her secret. After her death, it was discovered that the trunk held fashion plates depicting women's clothing, cut from magazines and carefully glued inside.
Author Jeremy Dronfield later described this collection as a shrine to the life Barry never lived:
> "Here, in this secret shrine, ‘James’ had collected and lovingly, longingly, glued images of all the gowns and bonnets, ribbons and shawls, slippers and coiffures that he had never had the chance to wear."
Barry Tried To Hide The Secret Even After The End
As Barry approached her 70th birthday in 1865, she insisted that no one dress her body after her death and requested to be buried in her last clothes. However, this wish was not honored, as Sophia Bishop discovered the truth about Barry's gender and her past, including evidence of a previous pregnancy.
Remarks of Barry’s Doctor
Major D.R. McKinnon, the doctor who signed Barry’s death certificate, identified her as a man, stating that her gender was irrelevant to him. Even the headstone marking her grave does not reveal her secret.
Situation After Barry’s Demise
Barry died before women were permitted entry into UK medical schools. Four years later, Sophia Jex-Blake sought admission to the University of Edinburgh after being rejected by Harvard, which barred women from all fields of study.
Jex-Blake eventually enrolled in Edinburgh but faced numerous challenges, including higher tuition fees and a faculty unwilling to teach her. Her experience culminated in a struggle to secure her medical degree, which the university did not grant to women until 1894.