In the annals of United States history, Doctor Mary Edwards Walker stands as a singular figure, the only woman ever bestowed with the Medal of Honor, the nation’s highest military decoration for valor. Her life was a testament to breaking barriers and unwavering dedication, not only as a pioneering surgeon but also as a staunch advocate for women’s rights, an abolitionist, and even a spy during the tumultuous era of the Civil War. From having a bronze statue erected in her hometown in 2012 to being prominently featured in the American Women Quarters Program, Doctor Mary Edwards Walker’s legacy continues to inspire and resonate across the nation.
Born on November 26, 1832, in the Town of Oswego, New York, Doctor Mary Edwards Walker was the fifth daughter of Alvah and Vesta Whitcomb Walker, both ardent abolitionists. Her upbringing was far from conventional for the time; her parents instilled in her a spirit of independent thought and encouraged her to defy societal norms, even allowing her to wear practical “bloomer” pants instead of the restrictive skirts and corsets typically imposed on women. Education held paramount importance in the Walker household. Alvah and Vesta established the first free school in Oswego, ensuring their daughters received education on par with their son. Beyond academics, all the Walker children contributed to the family farm’s manual labor, fostering a sense of resilience and self-sufficiency in Doctor Mary Edwards Walker. After attending her parents’ school, she and two of her sisters furthered their education at Falley Seminary in Fulton, New York. Graduating as a teacher in Minetto, New York, Doctor Mary Edwards Walker harbored a deeper ambition – to become a physician. She diligently worked until she accumulated sufficient funds to pursue medical studies, eventually enrolling at Syracuse Medical College. In 1855, she earned her medical degree, becoming only the second woman to graduate from the institution, following in the footsteps of Elizabeth Blackwell, another pioneering female doctor.
Alt text: Portrait of Doctor Mary Edwards Walker in formal attire, showcasing her determined gaze and independent spirit, a pioneering woman in medicine and advocacy.
Shortly after her graduation, Doctor Mary Edwards Walker married fellow medical student Albert Miller on November 16, 1855. Together, they embarked on establishing a medical practice in Rome, New York. However, their endeavor faced significant headwinds as the public was largely resistant to the idea of a female physician. The practice struggled, and the couple eventually divorced.
With the outbreak of the Civil War in 1861, Doctor Mary Edwards Walker’s unwavering patriotism compelled her to join the Union cause. She traveled to Washington D.C., seeking to serve as a medical officer. Despite her qualifications, she was denied a commission solely because of her gender. Undeterred, Doctor Mary Edwards Walker volunteered her services as an unpaid surgeon at the U.S. Patent Office Hospital in Washington. The army at the time had no precedent for female surgeons, limiting her to the role of a nurse in makeshift hospitals around the capital. In 1862, driven by a desire to be closer to the front lines, Doctor Mary Edwards Walker relocated to Virginia, where she provided medical care to wounded soldiers near battlefields such as Fredericksburg and Chattanooga. Finally, in 1863, her persistent requests to serve as a surgeon were granted. She was appointed as a “Contract Acting Assistant Surgeon (civilian)” by the Army of the Cumberland, making history as the first female U.S. Army surgeon.
Alt text: Doctor Mary Edwards Walker in her Civil War era attire, a symbol of her groundbreaking service as the first female U.S. Army surgeon, challenging gender norms in military medicine.
Throughout her service as a surgeon during the war, Doctor Mary Edwards Walker frequently ventured across battle lines to attend to both soldiers and civilians in need. However, in April 1864, her courageous actions led to her capture by Confederate troops under suspicion of being a spy. She was imprisoned for four harrowing months at the notorious Castle Thunder prison near Richmond, the Confederate capital, as a prisoner of war. Even in captivity, Doctor Mary Edwards Walker remained defiant, refusing to wear the women’s clothing provided to her, adhering to her lifelong preference for men’s attire, which she considered more comfortable, hygienic, and practical for her demanding profession. Her preference for pants even predated the war, as she had famously worn them under her skirt at her wedding. Doctor Mary Edwards Walker was released in August 1864 as part of a prisoner exchange involving medical personnel. In September 1864, she received a contract as the assistant surgeon of the Ohio 52nd Infantry. For the remainder of the Civil War, she served at the Louisville Women’s Prison Hospital and at an orphan asylum in Clarksville, Tennessee, continuing to provide vital medical care. Following the war’s conclusion in 1865, Doctor Mary Edwards Walker was awarded the Medal of Honor for Meritorious Service by President Andrew Johnson, recognizing her extraordinary contributions during the conflict. Despite this prestigious accolade, she was never granted a military pension due to her civilian contract status. A few years later, in 1871, Doctor Mary Edwards Walker published a semi-autobiographical book titled Hit: Essays on Women’s Rights, further amplifying her voice on social reform.
Beyond her remarkable Civil War service, Doctor Mary Edwards Walker was a fervent and outspoken advocate for women’s rights. Her personal life mirrored her activism; she famously adopted pants and championed “dress reform,” challenging the restrictive and impractical fashions dictated for women. In 1870, she was arrested in New Orleans for “dressing like a man,” an incident that was not isolated. Her defiance of gendered clothing norms, often marked by her signature top hat, led to repeated arrests. Doctor Mary Edwards Walker famously retorted to critics of her attire, “I don’t wear men’s clothes, I wear my own clothes,” asserting her autonomy and rejecting societal expectations. She extended her advocacy to the realm of suffrage, attempting to register to vote in 1871, only to be denied. She firmly believed that the U.S. Constitution already inherently granted women the right to vote. In 1912 and 1914, she testified before the U.S. House of Representatives in support of women’s suffrage. However, as the mainstream suffrage movement increasingly focused on a federal amendment and distanced itself from her unconventional attire, Doctor Mary Edwards Walker found herself increasingly marginalized by the movement. In her later years, she opened her home to individuals facing harassment or arrest for challenging traditional dress codes, providing a sanctuary for nonconformity.
Alt text: Doctor Mary Edwards Walker in her characteristic pantsuit and top hat, passionately advocating for women’s rights, embodying her lifelong fight for gender equality and social reform.
In a controversial move in 1916, the Medal of Honor was rescinded from Doctor Mary Edwards Walker and numerous others as the government reviewed eligibility criteria. However, this revocation did not deter Doctor Mary Edwards Walker from wearing her cherished medal until her death in 1919. At the age of eighty-six, Doctor Mary Edwards Walker passed away from illness on February 21, 1919. In accordance with her wishes, she was buried in a black suit, a final act of defiance against gendered expectations.
Decades later, in 1977, President Jimmy Carter posthumously reinstated the Medal of Honor to Doctor Mary Edwards Walker, righting a historical wrong and reaffirming her extraordinary contributions to the nation. Doctor Mary Edwards Walker’s life serves as a powerful reminder of courage, conviction, and the enduring fight for equality.
