Elizabeth Blackwell was born in England in 1821. When she was little, people felt that girls could not do as much as boys. Her father did not agree. He told her that she could do anything she wanted.

Elizabeth wanted to be a doctor. She knew she had to study hard. There were many books in her house she read all of them. When she was in school, she wanted the teacher to give her more and more work.

She always wanted to learn new things.

Elizabeth became the very first woman doctor. She helped many sick people. Some people didn't believe in her but that didn't stop her. In 1857, she opened a hospital for poor women and children.