Lenora King
Encyclopedia
Leonora Howard King was a Canadian
physician and medical missionary
who spent 47 years practicing medicine in China
. She was the first Canadian doctor to work in China.
Leonora Annetta Hoard was the daughter of Peter T. and Dorothy E. Howard. She was born in Lansdowne, County Leeds, Ontario, March 17th, 1851. She was raised in Farmersville (now Athens
), Upper Canada
. She was educated in Athens, Ontario and in New York. She qualified for and served as a teacher.
King was unable to attend medical school in Canada and received her medical degree from the University of Michigan
in 1876. After joining the Women's Foreign Missionary Society of the American Methodist Episcopal Missionary Society
, she left for China in 1877 where she was a missionary doctor with the American Methodist Episcopal Missionary Society in the northern Chinese province of Chihli
. She took up her residence in Peking.
In August, 1879, Dr King attended Lady Li, the wife of His Excellency Li Hung Chang
, then seriously ill, in Tien-Tsin. On Lady Li's recovery, she remained in Tien-Tsin
, in practice with the use of a temple being given to her for the purpose. She founded, in Tien-Tsin, the Methodist Episcopal Mission Hospital in 1880. In 1885 Dr. King opened a medical school for Chinese women and girls who had been educated in mission schools. In 1886, Lady Li built Dr. King another hospital, which was later known as Government Hospital for Women and Children, Tien-Tsin, China. During the war between China and Japan
, Dr. Howard opened her hospital to wounded soldiers as opposed to women and children. At the close of the war Dr. King the first Western woman was made a Mandarin
an honour of the Imperial Chinese Order of the Double Dragon
.
In 1884 she married Rev. Alexander King, a member of the London Missionary Society
.
In 2000, she was inducted into the Canadian Medical Hall of Fame
. In 2004, she was inducted into the American Medical Women's Association
’s International Women in Medicine Hall of Fame.
†
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
physician and medical missionary
Missionary
A missionary is a member of a religious group sent into an area to do evangelism or ministries of service, such as education, literacy, social justice, health care and economic development. The word "mission" originates from 1598 when the Jesuits sent members abroad, derived from the Latin...
who spent 47 years practicing medicine in China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
. She was the first Canadian doctor to work in China.
Leonora Annetta Hoard was the daughter of Peter T. and Dorothy E. Howard. She was born in Lansdowne, County Leeds, Ontario, March 17th, 1851. She was raised in Farmersville (now Athens
Athens, Ontario
Athens is a township in Eastern Ontario, Canada. It is located approximately 25 km north of the St. Lawrence River, near Brockville, west of Addison, and about 90 km south west of Ottawa....
), Upper Canada
Upper Canada
The Province of Upper Canada was a political division in British Canada established in 1791 by the British Empire to govern the central third of the lands in British North America and to accommodate Loyalist refugees from the United States of America after the American Revolution...
. She was educated in Athens, Ontario and in New York. She qualified for and served as a teacher.
King was unable to attend medical school in Canada and received her medical degree from the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
in 1876. After joining the Women's Foreign Missionary Society of the American Methodist Episcopal Missionary Society
American Methodist Episcopal Mission
American Methodist Episcopal Mission was an American Methodist missionary society that was involved in sending workers to countries such as China during the late Qing Dynasty.-American Methodist Episcopal Mission in China:...
, she left for China in 1877 where she was a missionary doctor with the American Methodist Episcopal Missionary Society in the northern Chinese province of Chihli
Zhili
Zhílì was a northern province in China from the Ming Dynasty until the province was dissolved in 1928 during the Republic of China era.-History:...
. She took up her residence in Peking.
In August, 1879, Dr King attended Lady Li, the wife of His Excellency Li Hung Chang
Li Hongzhang
Li Hongzhang or Li Hung-chang , Marquis Suyi of the First Class , GCVO, was a leading statesman of the late Qing Empire...
, then seriously ill, in Tien-Tsin. On Lady Li's recovery, she remained in Tien-Tsin
Tianjin
' is a metropolis in northern China and one of the five national central cities of the People's Republic of China. It is governed as a direct-controlled municipality, one of four such designations, and is, thus, under direct administration of the central government...
, in practice with the use of a temple being given to her for the purpose. She founded, in Tien-Tsin, the Methodist Episcopal Mission Hospital in 1880. In 1885 Dr. King opened a medical school for Chinese women and girls who had been educated in mission schools. In 1886, Lady Li built Dr. King another hospital, which was later known as Government Hospital for Women and Children, Tien-Tsin, China. During the war between China and Japan
First Sino-Japanese War
The First Sino-Japanese War was fought between Qing Dynasty China and Meiji Japan, primarily over control of Korea...
, Dr. Howard opened her hospital to wounded soldiers as opposed to women and children. At the close of the war Dr. King the first Western woman was made a Mandarin
Mandarin (bureaucrat)
A mandarin was a bureaucrat in imperial China, and also in the monarchist days of Vietnam where the system of Imperial examinations and scholar-bureaucrats was adopted under Chinese influence.-History and use of the term:...
an honour of the Imperial Chinese Order of the Double Dragon
Order of the Double Dragon
The Imperial Order of the Double Dragon was an order awarded in the period of the Qing Dynasty.The Order was founded by the Guangxu Emperor on 7 February 1882 as an award for outstanding services to the Throne...
.
In 1884 she married Rev. Alexander King, a member of the London Missionary Society
London Missionary Society
The London Missionary Society was a non-denominational missionary society formed in England in 1795 by evangelical Anglicans and Nonconformists, largely Congregationalist in outlook, with missions in the islands of the South Pacific and Africa...
.
In 2000, she was inducted into the Canadian Medical Hall of Fame
Canadian Medical Hall of Fame
The Canadian Medical Hall of Fame is a Canadian charitable organization, founded in 1994, that honours Canadians who have contributed to the understanding of disease and improving the health of people. It has a museum in London, Ontario, and has an annual induction ceremony.-2012:*Terry Fox*John...
. In 2004, she was inducted into the American Medical Women's Association
American Medical Women's Association
The American Medical Women's Association is a professional advocacy and educational organization of women physicians and medical students. Founded in 1915 by Bertha VanHoosen, the AMWA works to advance women in medicine and to serve as a voice for women's health...
’s International Women in Medicine Hall of Fame.
See also
- Norman BethuneNorman BethuneHenry Norman Bethune was a Canadian physician and medical innovator. Bethune is best known for his service in war time medical units during the Spanish Civil War and with the Communist Eighth Route Army during the Second Sino-Japanese War...
- a Canadian doctor hailed as hero for his work in China during the Second Sino-Japanese WarSecond Sino-Japanese WarThe Second Sino-Japanese War was a military conflict fought primarily between the Republic of China and the Empire of Japan. From 1937 to 1941, China fought Japan with some economic help from Germany , the Soviet Union and the United States...
.
†