Monument to Julia Anne Hornblower Cock MD, Longden Cemetery, Shrewsbury, Shropshire, England.
"In Beloved Memory Of
Julia Anne Hornblower Cock MD
Born 22 Feb 1860
The Lord Giveth And The Lord Hath Taken Away
Died 7th Feb 1914
And was interred at Rookwood
Are They Glad Because They are At Rest."
A friend of mind photographed the above monument whilst visiting a local cemetery and asked whether I would be interested in researching the life of Julia Anne Hornblower Cock.
Julia Anne Hornblower Cock was born on 22nd February 1860 to James Cock, a tanner, and his wife Ellen Lloyd. Julia was christened on 19th March 1860 at St Mary's Church, Shrewsbury, Shropshire.
Copyright David Dixon. |
Julia first appears on the 1861 Census, aged one year and living with her parents and elder siblings at The Baths in Shrewsbury, Shropshire.
By 1871 the family had moved to Beauchamp House on The Mount in Shrewsbury.
In 1877 Julia decided to embark on her career in the medical profession which at the time was a male dominated profession. Julia was one of a few pioneering women who were determined to open up the profession to women.
The 1881 Census finds the twenty one year old Julia a medical student at Bedford college for girls in London. At the time Julia is boarding at the home of Eliza A Townsend, head of the college, at 79 Gower Street, Finsbury, London.
The 1891 Census finds the now qualified surgical physician Julia living at 15 Manchester Square in Marylebone, London along with her general servant Mary Jones. Another lady physician, Jessie Crossfield is living a few houses away at 23 Manchester Square. It is possible the Julia and Jessie attended the same college.
Between 1887 and 1892 Julia worked as a member of the in-patient and out-patient staff at a hospital for women. In 1896 Julia took up the position of joint lecturer at the London (Royal Free Hospital) School of Medicine for Women.
By 1901 Julia had moved to 15 Nottingham Place, Marylebone, London where she lived along with her two servants Mary Walton and Clara Barnard. In 1903 Julia became the Dean of the London (Royal Free Hospital) School of Medicine for Women.
By 1911 Julia had moved to Sussex where she is listed as joint head of the household with another lady doctor, Louisa Woodcock at Colesbrook, Watersfield, Pulborough, Sussex.
Julia never married and passed away after suffering from a long illness three years later in 1914 six months before England declared war with Germany.
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