Mary Esslemont (1891 - 1984)

Born 3 Jul 1891 in Old Machar, Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, United Kingdom

Ancestors

Died 25 Aug 1984 at age 93 in Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, United Kingdom

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Mary Esslemont is Notable.

Biography

Mary Esslemont was born in Scotland.

Mary Esslemont was born on July 3, 1891 in Old Machar, Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, United Kingdom, the daughter of local MP George Birnie Esslemont (1860–1917) and his wife, President of the Aberdeen Women’s Liberation, Clementina Macdonald (1864–1958). ^[1][2]

Mary studied at Aberdeen High School for Girls and furthered her education at the University of Aberdeen, graduating with a BSC in 1914 and an MA in 1915. " ^[3]

Dr Mary Esslemont (1891-1984) was one such woman. She did a great deal to improve the wellbeing of mothers and babies, and helped to shape the early NHS.

In the 1901 census Mary (age 9), Scholar, was the granddaughter of Clementina MacDonald (nee Birnie) her maternal grandmother, in Old Machar, Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. ^[4] Ranald Macdonald 66, wife Clementina B Macdonald 60, daughter Katie Macdonald 26, granddaughter Mary Esslemont 9, servant Jane Ogston 26, servant Christina Maitland 21.

Mary blazed a trail for both womens' rights/issues and politics, she was brought up dealing with both within immediate family and her chosen career. She did a lot of travelling in the course of work, research and learning, she had a very colourful passport for the time, especially for a woman.

Mary first travelled in 1921 to Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. ^[5], and then again 7 years later in 1928 to San Francisco, California, United States.^[6]

Mary Esslemont was the only Scot, and only woman to sit on the committee that negotiated on behalf of the BMA ^[7] with Aneurin Bevan M.P. (1897-1960) on the development of the National Health Service. In 1953-4. Mary was President of the Medical Women's Federation.

Mary was awarded an honorary LLD in 1954, ^{[8] [9]} by the University of Aberdeen.

In 1953-4 She was President of the Medical Women's Federation, She was made a CBE in 1955

Mary travelled again in 1961 to Rio de Janeiro, Brasil.^[10]

Mary was made a Fellow of the Royal College of General Practitioners in 1969. and then in the following year the BMA made her a vice-president in recognition of her service. ^[11] and a student residence, Esslemont House, was named after her in 1976.^[11]. In 1981 she was awarded the Freedom of the City of Aberdeen. ^[8]

All the while in between all Mary's exotic travels and achievements she remained "Dr Mary" to very many expectant Aberdeen mothers, they just knew they could call on her and she never let let them down, if she couldn't get there in person she would send her trusted people to help and that is very likely the reason she is honoured the way she is , she was the inspiration for many young women (see comments) from the area.

Mary died on August 25, 1984 in Aberdeen, aged 93. She is mentioned on a memorial in Allenvale Cemetery, Aberdeen, Aberdeen City, Scotland with a death date of 25 August 1984.^{[12] [13][14]}

There is also a commemorative plaque at 30 Beechgrove Terrace, Aberdeen where Mary Esslemont previously lived ^[8].

"General practitioner in Aberdeen, Scotland, Vice President of the British Medical Association (BMA) and president of the Soroptimist Federation."

Research Notes

Mary was mentioned in the obituary of her father George Birnie Esslemont on 3 October 1917 in Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, Scotland.^[15]

Sources

1. ↑ "Scotland Births and Baptisms, 1564-1950," database, (FamilySearch Record: XTX3-67Z : accessed 15 March 2024), Mary Esslemont born on 3 Jul 1891, daughter of George Birnie Esslemont & Clementina MacDonald Esslemont, in Old Machar, Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, United Kingdom; citing Digital film/folder number: 008137810; FHL microfilm: 255094; Record number: 407; Packet letter: B.
2. ↑ "Statutory Register of Births," database, National Records of Scotland, (ScotlandsPeople : accessed 17 March 2024), Mary Esslemont birth registered 1891 in Aberdeen Old Machar, mother's maiden name MacDonald; citing Ref 168/2/992.
3. ↑ International Women’s Day - Dr Mary Esslemont CBE
4. ↑ "Scotland Census, 1901," database, (FamilySearch Record: 7Y4S-YL3Z : accessed 15 March 2024), Mary Esslemont (9), single granddaughter, Scholar, in household of Clementina B MacDonald (60) in Old Machar, Aberdeen in ST MACHAR registration district in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. Born in ST MACHAR, ABERDEEN; citing District: ST MACHAR; Piece/Folio: 39; Page: 7; Line: 3; Digital film/folder number: DI0001028.
5. ↑ "Canada, Immigration Records, 1919-1924," database with images, (FamilySearch Record: 68NY-KGNP : accessed 15 March 2024) FamilySearch Image: 3Q9M-C3WP-J7SL-W, Name Mary Esslemont, Immigration Date 1921, Immigration Place Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, Birth Date 1892, Birth Place ABERDEEN, Scotland, Marital Status Single, Race SCOTCH, Age 29 years, Record Nbr 0, Vis Status VISIBLE, System Of Record SLS; citing Digital film/folder number: 008601337; Image number: 1908.
6. ↑ "California, index to San Francisco passenger lists, 1893-1934," database with images, (FamilySearch Record: CDCH-P26Z : accessed 15 March 2024) FamilySearch Image: 3Q9M-C9B2-GSXZ-3, Name Mary Esslemont, Birth Date 1892, Birth Place Aberdeen, Scotland, Immigration Date 1928, Immigration Place San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States, Nationality Gt. Britain, Age 36 years, Record Nbr 0, Vis Status VISIBLE, System Of Record SLS; citing Affiliate Publication Title: Indexes to Passenger Lists of Vessels Arriving at San Francisco, California, 1893-1934; Affiliate Publication Number: M1389; Digital film/folder number: 007726064; Image number: 8542.
7. ↑ [1] British Medical Association
8. ↑ ^{8.0 8.1 8.2} Wikipedia entry: Wikipedia contributors, "Mary Esslemont"
   Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia (accessed 5 January 2024)
9. ↑ MARY ESSLEMONT 1891 - 1984
10. ↑ "Brasil, Cartões de Imigração, 1900-1965," database with images, (FamilySearch Record: KNPC-DSL : accessed 15 March 2024) FamilySearch Image: 33SQ-G5B3-95FX, Name Mary Esslemont, Nationality Britain, Marital Status Single, Immigration Date 1961, Immigration Place Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil, Birth Date 3 Jul 1891, Birth Place Aberdeen, Pub Unit Work Unit 2013 06 18(Delivery #1), Misc Flag Travel Children No, Vis Status VISIBLE, System Of Record SLS; citing Digital film/folder number: 004917497; Image number: 24.
11. ↑ ^{11.0 11.1} Esslemont House Student Halls of Residence
12. ↑ Memorial: Find a Grave (has image)
    Find A Grave: Memorial #257243732 (accessed 5 January 2024)
    Memorial page for Dr Mary Esslemont (3 Jul 1891-25 Aug 1984), citing Allenvale Cemetery, Aberdeen, Aberdeen City, Scotland; Maintained by GariochGraver (contributor 47469430).
13. ↑ "BillionGraves Index," database, (FamilySearch Record: QKDK-K1J2 : accessed 15 March 2024) http://billiongraves.com/pages/record/person/14059028, Mary Esslemont burial (died in 1984) in Aberdeen, Aberdeen City, Scotland, United Kingdom. Born in 1891; citing BillionGraves (http://www.billiongraves.com : 2012), Burial at Allenvale Cemetery Aberdeen, Aberdeen, Aberdeen City, Scotland, United Kingdom.
14. ↑ "Find a Grave Index," database, (FamilySearch Record: 6PMW-DRQW : accessed 15 March 2024) Find A Grave: Memorial #257243732, Mary Esslemont burial (died on 25 Aug 1984) in Aberdeen, Aberdeen City, Scotland. Born on 3 Jul 1891; citing record ID 257243732, Find a Grave.
15. ↑ "British Newspaper Archives, Obituaries," database, (FamilySearch Record: Q26M-9C47 : accessed 15 March 2024), Name Miss Mary Esslemont, Relationship To Head Daughter, Role Type Relative of Deceased, Source Newspaper Aberdeen Evening Express, Image Pal; citing Obituary, Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, United Kingdom, page , Records extracted by FindMyPast and images digitized by FamilySearch. The British Library, London; FHL microfilm 102,001,099.