The following is republished from the WAPUSH campaign, an initiative to get women’s history into US schools.
Born: 6 May 1812, United Kingdom
Died: 1 April 1878
Country most active: United States
Also known as: Madame Restall
Midwife, Businesswoman, Immigrant
Madame Restell was born as Ann Trow on May 6, 1812 in Painswick, England. In 1836, she met Charles Lohman, who encouraged her to start a career as a physician even though Restell lacked a formal education in medicine. Under the pseudonym Madame Restell, she began to advertise her practice in 1839 in New York. Restell’s services initially included contraceptive pills, abortifacients, and surgical abortions, but she later expanded to offering a boarding house where women could give birth anonymously and give the unwanted child up for adoption. At the time, state law stated that abortions were legal until the ‘quickening’, or first movement, of the fetus, which usually occurs around four months. Restell made sure to determine how far along her patients were in order to avoid a possible fine or prison sentence.
In 1840, Restell administered a surgical abortion on a woman named Maria Purdy, who later died from tuberculosis. On her deathbed, Purdy confessed to having this procedure, and her husband reported Restell to the police. A debate soon began to spread throughout the press, with some deeming Restell as a ‘threat to the institution of marriage’ and ‘monster in human shape.’ Although Restell was initially found guilty, retrial at the appellate court reversed this verdict. Feeling more hopeful, Restell expanded her offices and advertising to Boston and Philadelphia.
In 1847, Restell denied a surgical abortion to a woman named Maria Bodine after determining she was too far along into the pregnancy. However, Bodine insisted on the procedure. Soon after, Bodine’s physician reported Restell to the police, and she was arrested. Restell was charged with second-degree manslaughter and sentenced to a year on Blackwell’s Island. After her time in prison, Restell decided to no longer provide surgical procedures.
In 1873, Anthony Comstock passed a federal act known as the Comstock Laws, which prohibited the selling or advertising of articles intended to prevent conception or administer an abortion. Comstock intended to hunt down Restell, so in 1878, he attended her office pretending to be someone who wanted to purchase her abortion pills. After Restell sold her pills to Comstock, he returned the next day and had her arrested. Restell was never tried following her arrest. On April 1, 1878, Restell’s maid found her dead by suicide in the bathtub.
Despite her infamous title of ‘the Wickedest Woman in New York,’ Madame Restell’s 40-year legacy as a female physician was admired by her patients and is still admired today.
Read more (Wikipedia)
Read more (Smithsonian Magazine)
Read more (Women and the American Story)
Work cited
Kahler, Abbott. “Madame Restell: The Abortionist of Fifth Avenue.” Smithsonian.Com, Smithsonian Institution, 27 Nov. 2012, www.smithsonianmag.com/history/madame-restell-the-abortionist-of-fifth-avenue-145109198/.