In the United States today, women make up roughly a third of all physicians and about 14 percent of active-duty service members—a reality that would have been almost unthinkable in the 19th century. Born in 1832, Mary Edwards Walker defied the strict expectations of her time to become the U.S. Army’s first female surgeon.
Through her medical expertise and remarkable bravery during wartime, she was awarded the Medal of Honor, the nation’s highest military decoration. Her legacy remains a powerful example of determination and trailblazing achievement, helping open the door for future generations of women in both the military and the field of medicine.
Mary Edwards Walker’s upbringing
Mary Edwards Walker was raised in Oswego, New York, in a household deeply influenced by her abolitionist parents. From childhood, they fostered independent thinking and encouraged her to challenge societal norms. She frequently defied traditional women’s fashions, enduring criticism and social pushback for her unconventional style.
Biographer Sharon Harris said of Walker’s childhood, “Boys chased her and threw rocks at her. She once said that nobody would ever know what she had to go through just to step out the door each morning.”
Mary Edwards Walker’s parents insisted she have access to the same rigorous education as her brothers. She began her studies at a free public school founded by her family, which provided a solid academic foundation. Later, she attended Falley Seminary, a school known for both its advanced curriculum and its progressive stance on social reforms and women’s roles.
Her time at Falley Seminary profoundly influenced her, strengthening her belief in equality and inspiring her lifelong determination to defy societal norms.
Walker’s medical career
In the mid-1800s, pursuing a career in medicine was especially difficult for women. Social expectations, limited access to education, and widespread bias made it hard for aspiring female doctors to gain proper training and credentials.
Despite these obstacles, Mary Edwards Walker enrolled at Syracuse Medical School in New York, where she performed exceptionally well and graduated with honors in 1855. During her time there, she met fellow student Albert Miller, whom she later married, forming a partnership that supported her determination to overcome barriers in the medical field.
During her time in school, Mary Edwards Walker stood out not only for her intellect but also for her unconventional style. She often wore clothing that challenged traditional expectations, drawing attention from both classmates and patients. On her wedding day to Albert Miller, she broke from custom entirely—choosing to wear a full suit and top hat instead of the traditional bridal gown.
Guided by her parents’ beliefs, Mary Edwards Walker consistently advocated for clothing that emphasized comfort, practicality, and health rather than style or social expectations. In 1871 she wrote, “The greatest sorrows from which women suffer today are those physical, moral, and mental ones, that are caused by their unhygienic manner of dressing.”
American Civil War
When the American Civil War broke out, Walker was eager to serve her country. By the time war broke out, she’d kept a private practice for a number of years. She volunteered for the Union Army as a surgeon and was initially rejected. She was instead offered a position as a nurse, which she accepted, though she eventually served as a surgeon.
In 1862, Walker offered her services as a spy, but was rebuffed. A year later, she became the first female to ever serve in the Army as a surgeon. In 1864, she was captured and arrested by the Confederate Army, after helping a Confederate doctor perform an amputation. Walker was held in captivity for four months, until she was exchanged for a Confederate surgeon.
Medal of Honor controversy
After the war, Mary Edwards Walker turned her attention to writing and public speaking, advocating for improvements in medical care and for women’s rights. For her wartime service, she initially received a modest disability pension of $8.50 per month, later increased to $20.
Determined to secure formal recognition, Walker petitioned for a commission or a retroactive brevet to establish her rank officially. Although the government denied these requests, President Andrew Johnson found another way to honor her contributions, personally awarding her the Medal of Honor in recognition of her extraordinary service.
In 1916, Congress established a pension program for Medal of Honor recipients, prompting a review of all previous awardees. This review resulted in the removal of 911 names from the official rolls, largely because those individuals had never been formally enlisted or commissioned—Mary Edwards Walker was among them.
Decades later, during the 1970s, President Jimmy Carter oversaw a reevaluation of the decision, ultimately leading to the official reinstatement of Walker’s Medal of Honor.
Mary Edwards Walker’s legacy
Mary Edwards Walker left her mark on the country in a variety of ways. While they struggled to earn respect, women served as doctors during World War I. Over time, women began to serve in the military, not just as nurses and doctors, but as soldiers, too.
Walker was inducted into the Women’s Hall of Fame in 2000. A World War II-era ship, the SS Mary Walker, was named in her honor. A number of medical and military buildings are also named for her. In 2009, Hillary and Chelsea Clinton featured her story in The Book of Gutsy Women: Favorite Stories of Courage and Resilience.