Walker, Mary E(dwards) (1832–1919)

US physician and feminist. During the American Civil War she was an assistant surgeon 1863–64; she was imprisoned by the Confederates in 1864, and won a Congressional Medal of Honor for Meritorious Service in 1865. Afterwards she lectured on such issues as dress reform and women's suffrage.

She did not support a proposed suffrage amendment, contending the right to vote was already contained in the constitution.

Walker was born in Oswego Town, New York, graduated from Syracuse Medical College in 1855, and married a medical student who also became a physician. An activist on behalf of women's dress reform, she wore ‘bloomers’ at the wedding ceremony; the word ‘obey’ was omitted from her vows, and she kept her own name. The couple separated in 1859.

The US government questioned her medical credentials and withdrew her medal in 1917, but she continued to wear it (and it was posthumously restored in 1977).