Leonora King

Dr Leonora Howard King

Leonora King (1851–1925), also known as Leonora Howard King, was a pioneering Canadian physician and medical missionary. She is notable for being the first woman doctor to practice Western medicine in China.

Early Life and Education

Leonora King was born in Osnabruck, Ontario, in 1851. She pursued her medical education at the University of Michigan, where she graduated with a degree in medicine in 1876. She furthered her studies at the University of Toronto.

Medical Missionary Work in China

In 1877, Leonora King traveled to China under the auspices of the Women's Foreign Missionary Society of the Methodist Church of Canada. She initially worked in Peking (now Beijing), where she faced significant challenges due to cultural differences and resistance to Western medicine.

Contributions to Medicine

King's work in China was groundbreaking. She established the first women's hospital in Peking, which provided medical care to women and children who otherwise had limited access to healthcare. Her efforts significantly improved the health and well-being of many Chinese women and children.

Recognition and Honors

In recognition of her contributions, Leonora King was awarded the Imperial Order of the Double Dragon by the Qing Dynasty government, making her one of the first Western women to receive this honor.

Later Life and Legacy

Leonora King continued her work in China until her retirement in 1917. She returned to Canada, where she lived until her death in 1925. Her legacy lives on through the many lives she touched and the advancements she made in the field of medicine in China.

See Also

• Medical Missionary
• Women's Foreign Missionary Society
• University of Michigan
• University of Toronto
• Imperial Order of the Double Dragon