Regina von Siebold

Regina Josepha von Siebold, born Henning and related products. Saviour ( born December 14, 1771 in Geismar, † February 28, 1849 in Darmstadt) was given on 6 September 1815, the first woman in Germany the honorary doctorate of the " birth art" ( obstetrics).

Biography

Josepha Henning was born as the daughter of an official on 14 December 1771 initially very liberal educated for the time. At the age of ten she entered a boarding school run by Ursuline nuns. Shortly before her 16th birthday, she married the Councillor George Savior. From this first marriage four children, including the daughter of Charlotte Heidenreich von Siebold (1788-1859) originate. Saviour died after a few years and Saviour Josepha married her doctor Damian von Siebold, who came from an important family of doctors, but was just simple country doctor himself.

To supplement the family income, Josepha von Siebold began a study of obstetrics, for that time an unusual career for a woman. You obtained a waiver for the study with her ​​brother Elias von Siebold in Würzburg. She was allowed to attend the lectures only behind a curtain and not perform practical exercises. The practical experience she gained following the studies in Würzburg in the practice of her husband. In November 1807 Josepha von Siebold applied for admission to the state examination at the University of Giessen. The main argument of their application was the lack of scientific training of midwives. After a four -hour exam she was admitted as a doctor and began to practice in Darmstadt. On September 6, 1815, she was awarded by Ferdinand von Ritgen honorary doctorate childbirth Art at the University of Giessen.

Josepha von Siebold's daughter Charlotte received his doctorate in 1817 also at the University of Giessen and then practiced with her mother. Charlotte von Siebold 1819 was midwife at the birth of Alexandrine Victoria of Hanover, who later Queen Victoria.