Wales’ eleventh Purple Plaque honours Dr Frances Hoggan, the first Welsh woman to gain a medical degree. The plaque dedicated to this pioneering, Brecon-born doctor, campaigner and social reformer was unveiled at her birthplace in High Street, Brecon at 1pm on Friday, 3rd March 2023. The plaque is sponsored by the Learned Society of Wales.
Dr Frances Hoggan was the first British woman to gain a medical degree, which she did in mainland Europe. She was also the first female member of the British College of Physicians (through her membership of the King’s and Queen’s College of Physicians in Ireland).
Frances travelled to Switzerland to take her degree because women were not allowed to study for medical degrees in Britain. She graduated in March 1870, three months ahead of the much better-known Elizabeth Garrett Anderson who graduated from the Sorbonne in June that year.
As well as fighting against the odds to qualify as a female doctor, Frances campaigned for other women to be allowed to qualify and work as doctors in the UK and India. She also fought to establish secondary schools for girls in Wales, later on also calling for social reforms in South Africa, the Middle East and the USA.
Frances was born in 1843 at 19 High Street in Brecon, currently home to the Nicholls store. Her father was a curate at what is now Brecon Cathedral before becoming vicar of Aberavon. He died while Frances was still a child in 1851. She continued to campaign through much of her life, passing away in 1927.
Mae Plac Porffor unfed ar ddeg Cymru yn anrhydeddu Dr Frances Hoggan, y Gymraes gyntaf i ennill gradd feddygol. Dadorchuddiwyd y plac a gysegrwyd i’r meddyg, ymgyrchydd a diwygiwr cymdeithasol arloesol hwn a aned yn Aberhonddu yn ei man geni yn y Stryd Fawr, Aberhonddu am 1yp ddydd Gwener, 3ydd Mawrth 2023. Noddir y plac gan Gymdeithas Ddysgedig Cymru.
Dr Frances Hoggan oedd y fenyw Brydeinig gyntaf i ennill gradd feddygol yn Ewrop. Hi hefyd oedd yr aelod benywaidd cyntaf o Goleg Meddygon Prydain (trwy ei haelodaeth o Goleg Meddygon y Brenin a’r Frenhines yn Iwerddon).
Teithiodd Frances i’r Swistir i raddio gan nad oedd yn bosib i ferched ennill gradd feddygol yn y Deyrnas Unedig. Graddiodd ym mis Mawrth 1870, dri mis ar y blaen i Elizabeth Garrett Anderson, sydd llawer yn fwy adnabyddus, ac a raddiodd o’r Sorbonne ym mis Mehefin yr un flwyddyn.
Yn ogystal â brwydro, er gwaethaf llu o rwystrau, i gymhwyso fel meddyg a hithau’n ferch, bu Frances yn ymgyrchu dros sicrhau y gallai menywod eraill gymhwyso a gweithio fel meddygon ym Mhrydain ac yn India. Bu hefyd yn ymgyrchu i sefydlu ysgolion uwchradd i ferched yng Nghymru, ac yn ddiweddarach, gweithiodd dros ddiwygio cymdeithas yn yr Unol Daleithiau, y Dwyrain Canol a De Affrica.
Ganed Frances ym 1843 yn rhif 19 Y Stryd Fawr, Aberhonddu, lle mae siop Nicholls erbyn hyn. Roedd ei thad yn gurad yn yr hyn sydd bellach yn Gadeirlan Aberhonddu cyn dod yn ficer Aberafan. Bu farw ym 1851 yn ystod plentyndod Frances. Parhaodd Frances i ymgyrchu drwy gydol ei hoes. Bu farw ym 1927.