Born: 13 November 1715, Germany
Died: 13 June 1762
Country most active: Germany
Also known as: Dorothea Christiane Leporin
The following bio was written by Emma Rosen, author of On This Day She Made History: 366 Days With Women Who Shaped the World and This Day In Human Ingenuity & Discovery: 366 Days of Scientific Milestones with Women in the Spotlight, and has been republished with permission.
Dorothea Erxleben was Germany’s first female doctor. She was born in Quedlinburg, Germany, to Christian Polycarp Leporin, a physician who recognized her early academic potential. Dorothea’s pursuit of a medical education at the University of Halle in 1741 faced both support and opposition, with her admission requiring special permission from King Frederick the Great of Prussia.
In her 1742 book, “A Thorough Inquiry into the Causes Preventing the Female Sex from Studying,” Dorothea advocated for women’s educational opportunities. She briefly postponed her studies at 26 to marry Johann Christian Erxleben, continuing her medical education while managing family responsibilities.
Influenced by Laura Bassi, Dorothea practiced medicine in Quedlinburg to address financial challenges after her father’s death and her husband’s declining health. Local physicians sued her for medical quackery, leading to a royal ruling that she must pass an examination and submit a dissertation at the University of Halle.
Dorothea’s dissertation, titled “Concerning the Swift and Pleasant but for that Reason less than Full Cure of Illnesses,” challenged medical practices, emphasizing judicious treatment. She earned her M.D. degree on June 12, 1754, becoming Germany’s first female doctor. She dedicated her life to practicing medicine in Quedlinburg until her death on June 13, 1762.
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