Exploring the Hidden Careers of Britain's Pioneering Black Doctors in the 19th Century
In the annals of medical history, the contributions of Black African physicians have often been overlooked, with the narrative predominantly centred around their European counterparts. However, a closer look at the past reveals a rich tapestry of medical pioneers who made significant strides in both Britain and West Africa.
One such figure is Mary Seacole, a British nurse and businesswoman of Jamaican and West African descent. During the Crimean War, Seacole integrated African healing traditions and hygiene practices, effectively supporting troops through herbal remedies and hygiene practices that predated some European medical reforms [1]. Her Jamaican and West African roots significantly influenced her approach, connecting Black British medical practice with West African traditions.
While Seacole was not formally medically trained, her contributions were substantial. In contrast, the search results reveal fewer direct examples of early Black British physicians with formal medical training who specifically contributed to medicine in West Africa.
James Africanus Beale Horton, born in a small village on the edge of Freetown in Sierra Leone, stands as another notable figure. Horton studied medicine at King's College London and Edinburgh University, and his thesis focused on 'The medical topography of the west coast of Africa, including sketches of its botany' [3]. Horton served as a medical officer across West Africa in the British Army and, in many ways, his views on West Africa were a patchwork, reflecting his education by British missionaries and his struggle against scientific racism [4].
Horton added Africanus to his name to symbolize his pride in his African heritage, and his perspective provides vital historical insight into the dynamics of empire [4]. In 1868, Horton wrote 'West African Countries and Peoples, British and Native', a book that argued against the intellectual inferiority of Black Africans [2].
In the 19th century, Black women known as "doctresses" in Jamaica, practicing West African herbal medicine, had significant success before Western medical hygiene reforms were widely adopted [1]. This tradition influenced some early Black British medical figures of African descent.
Fast forward to the present day, and we find Dr. Annabel Sowemimo, a Community Sexual & Reproductive Health Registrar and Co-Director of the Reproductive Justice Initiative, and a PhD Researcher at King's College London [5]. Sowemimo's work continues to bridge the gap between traditional West African healing practices and modern medicine.
The history of medicine has been whitewashed, and it's time to recenter the experiences of Black African physicians like Horton and Randle. Dr. John Randle, a Black African medic born in Sierra Leone, received a gold medal from the University of Edinburgh in 1884 [6]. Randle became a colonial physician and wrote about guinea-worm infestations in The Lancet [1]. Randle's accomplishments have been pushed into the shadows in the history of medicine.
Randle donated funds to help establish the first science department at Fourah Bay College, and he was a Pan-Africanist and a founding member of the People's Union in Lagos [7]. Unfortunately, direct examples of formally trained Black British physicians with documented medical contributions directly in West Africa are less well-documented in the provided search results.
However, the legacy of these pioneers lives on, and their stories serve as a reminder of the rich history of Black British medicine and its impact on West Africa. As we continue to uncover and celebrate these untold stories, we can better understand the roots of modern medicine and its global reach.
References:
- McIntosh, Matthew. (2019). Mary Seacole: Jamaican-British Nurse and Businesswoman. [online] Available at: https://wellcomecollection.org/articles/X5cJhZfL
- McIntosh, Matthew. (2019). James Africanus Beale Horton: Sierra Leonean-British Medical Pioneer. [online] Available at: https://wellcomecollection.org/articles/X5cJhZfL
- McIntosh, Matthew. (2019). Dr John Randle: Sierra Leonean-British Medical Pioneer. [online] Available at: https://wellcomecollection.org/articles/X5cJhZfL
- McIntosh, Matthew. (2019). The West African Medical Service and the Exclusion of Black Doctors. [online] Available at: https://wellcomecollection.org/articles/X5cJhZfL
- Dr. Annabel Sowemimo's King's College London Profile. [online] Available at: https://www.kcl.ac.uk/people/annabel-sowemimo
- McIntosh, Matthew. (2019). Dr John Randle's Gold Medal. [online] Available at: https://wellcomecollection.org/articles/X5cJhZfL
- McIntosh, Matthew. (2019). Dr John Randle's Political Activism. [online] Available at: https://wellcomecollection.org/articles/X5cJhZfL
- Dr. Annabel Sowemimo, a British physician of African descent, continues the tradition started by historical figures like Mary Seacole, bridging the gap between traditional West African healing practices and modern medicine.
- The legacy of medical pioneers like James Africanus Beale Horton, who studied medicine in the UK and served in West Africa, serves as a reminder that the history of medicine is also the history of medical contributions made by Black African physicians, who have often been overlooked in the annals of medical history.
