Mary Esslemont, 1891-1984

Mary Esslemont was born in Aberdeen in 1891, and in 1914 graduated BSc from the University of Aberdeen, where she participated fully in student life. She worked as an assistant in the Botany department at the University of Aberdeen, and as a science lecturer at Stockwell Training College, London, before entering the medical school, from where she graduated in 1923. She was appointed assistant medical officer of health in Keighley, Yorkshire, from 1924 - 1929, before returning to Aberdeen, where she was in private practice for over 30 years.

She was a member of council of the British Medical Association for 23 years, during which time she served on its Public Health, Amending Acts, Joint BMA and Royal College of Nursing, Occupational Health, and Journal committees. She was also the first woman to serve on the Scottish Council, and became its chairperson in 1968. During her time in Aberdeen she became involved in many other local organisations and causes, for which work she was awarded freedom of the City in 1981. She served on the University General Council for over 40 years, and in 1947 became the first woman assessor on the University Court. Maintaining her family's well-established association with local politics (her father and grandfather had both been Liberal MPs for Aberdeen South), she became first woman president of Aberdeen Liberal Association in 1954. In 1954 she received an honorary LL D (Aberdeen) and in 1955 was awarded a CBE.

For further details see obituary in British Medical Journal, 289, (1984), 705.

From the guide to the Papers of Mary Esslemont, 20th century, (University of Aberdeen)