Letitia Fairfield

Dr
Letitia Fairfield
Letitia Fairfield circa 1917
Born
Josephine Letitia Denny Fairfield

10 March 1885
Melbourne, Australia
Died1 February 1978(1978-02-01) (aged 92)
EducationRichmond High School for Girls
George Watson's Ladies' College
Edinburgh School of Medicine for Women
University of Edinburgh
OccupationMedical Officer
FamilyRebecca West (sister)
Anthony West (nephew)

Josephine Letitia Denny Fairfield CBE MB CM MD (10 March 1885 – 1 February 1978) was a medical doctor, a lawyer, a war-worker, and the first ever female Chief Medical Officer for London.[1] She received a CBE for her outstanding achievements in medicine following her contributions in World War I, despite initially having been rejected by the War Office. Fairfield went on to work for the London County Council, where she campaigned for the initiation of new Public Health departments relating in particular to women's and children's health, and defending who she believed were the most vulnerable members of society. She was a feminist and a Fabian, and during her later life became a convert to Roman Catholicism and a believer in witchcraft.[2]

  1. ^ Law, Cheryl (2000). Women, A Modern Political Dictionary. I.B.Tauris. pp. 61–. ISBN 978-1-86064-502-0.
  2. ^ Elston, M.A. (2004). "Fairfield, (Josephine) Letitia Denny (1885–1978)". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/54196. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)