Merrick, Myra King (1825–1899)

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Merrick, Myra King (1825–1899)

American physician. Born Myra King, Aug 15, 1825, in Hinckley, Leicestershire, England; died Nov 10, 1899, in Cleveland, Ohio; dau. of Elizabeth King and Richard King; graduate of Central Medical College, Rochester, NY, 1852; m. Charles H. Merrick (builder), June 1848; children: at least 2 sons.

The 1st practicing woman physician in Cleveland, Ohio, moved with family to Cleveland (1841); studied privately with physicians Eli and Levi Ives; opened a Cleveland practice (Aug 1852); contributed to the formation of both a Cleveland hospital for women and children and a Cleveland women's medical school; during Civil War, managed husband's lumber business and sawmill and concurrently practiced medicine in rural North Eaton, Ohio; returned to Cleveland practice (1863); helped establish and served as professor (1867–71) and as president (1869–71) of the Cleveland Homeopathic Hospital College for Women; with other women physicians, founded and served as a dispensary president of the Cleveland Medical and Surgical Dispensary Society (1878–99), a free dispensary known as the "Open Door" (later the Women's and Children's Free Medical and Surgical Dispensary).

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Merrick, Myra King (1825–1899)

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