Charlotte Ferguson-Davie

Charlotte Elizabeth Ferguson-Davie
OBE
Born
Charlotte Elizabeth Hull

1880 (1880)
West Ham, Essex[1]
Died24 March 1943[2]
Port Elizabeth, South Africa[2]
NationalityBritish
Medical career
ProfessionPhysician
InstitutionsSt. Andrew Mission Hospital
Sub-specialtiesMedical missionary
Notable worksIn Rubber Lands: An Account of the Work of the Church in Malaya

Charlotte Elizabeth Ferguson-Davie OBE (1880 – 24 March 1943) was a British physician and the founder of the St. Andrew's Medical Mission and the St. Andrew Mission Hospital, the first women's and children's clinic in Singapore.

Biography

Ferguson-Davie was born in Essex, the daughter of Irish geologist Edward Hull, and she went on to become a medical doctor.[3][4] In 1902, she married the Anglican Right Reverend Charles James Ferguson-Davie.[4] Ferguson-Davie and her husband came to Singapore in 1909.[5] Prior to coming to Singapore, she had worked in India as a medical missionary.[6]

In 1913, she helped create the St. Andrew Medical Mission in order to help care for the "poor and disadvantaged."[7] She opened a second clinic in 1914.[8] In 1921, she published a book, In Rubber Lands: An Account of the Work of the Church in Malaya.[4]

In 1923, she created the first women's and children's clinic in Singapore, named the St. Andrew's Mission Hospital (SAMH).[9] She was able to obtain the land and get architects to work for her for almost "nothing."[10] The next year, in 1924, Ferguson-Davie expanded the services that SAMH provided, including a venereal disease clinic.[4] Ferguson-Davie set up training classes, teaching nursing and midwifery.[4]

Ferguson-Davie became an officer of the Order of the British Empire in 1927 and in the same year, retired.[4] She and her husband then moved to South Africa, where he worked at Fort Hare College.[4] Ferguson-Davie died in 1943.[4]

Legacy

Ferguson-Davie was recognized for her medical work during the St. Andrew's Cathedral's Thanksgiving service in 2013.[10] In 2014, she was inducted into the Singapore Women's Hall of Fame.[4]

References

  1. ^ England & Wales, Civil Registration Birth Index, 1837-1915
  2. ^ a b "Deaths". The Times. 26 March 1943. p. 1.
  3. ^ Kelly's Handbook to the Titled, Landed & Official Classes. Kelly's Directories. 1912. p. 1548.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Charlotte Elizabeth Ferguson-Davie". Singapore Women's Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on 17 November 2015. Retrieved 21 November 2017.
  5. ^ "On This Day in History: 18 October, SAMH Founder's Day". 100 Years of SAMH. 18 October 2013. Retrieved 21 November 2017.
  6. ^ "St. Andrews Medical Dispensary". Roots. National Heritage Board. Archived from the original on 6 March 2019. Retrieved 21 November 2017.
  7. ^ Luk, Sabrina Ching Yuen (26 March 2014). Health Insurance Reforms in Asia. Routledge. p. 83. ISBN 9781317748649.
  8. ^ "Anglican Diocese of Singapore". Singapore Infopedia. National Library of Singapore. Archived from the original on 30 September 2015. Retrieved 21 November 2017.
  9. ^ Vasko, Lydia (11 July 2014). "Window Into Our Heritage". The Straits Times. Retrieved 21 November 2017 – via LexisNexis.
  10. ^ a b "100 Years of Medical Missions". The Diocese of Singapore. 20 May 2013. Archived from the original on 17 November 2015. Retrieved 21 November 2017.