Charlotte Denman Lozier (March 15, 1844 – January 3, 1870) was one of the first female physicians in the United States. She worked as a professor, as a feminist campaigning for women's rights, and as a homeopathic physician. She was also a mother to three and spent much of her early childhood traveling around the United States with her family.

Early life

She was the daughter of Selina and Jacob Denman. Lozier was the oldest of five. Lozier was born in Milburn, New Jersey, in the

Eastern United States The Eastern United States, commonly referred to as the American East, Eastern America, or simply the East, is the region of the United States to the east of the Mississippi River. In some cases the term may refer to a smaller area or the East C ...

. The Denman family travelled to Napoleon, Michigan in 1850 and later to Galena, Illinois in hopes of exploring the frontier. The Denman family finally travelled west to Winona, Minnesota in 1852. Charlotte's mother, Selina Denman, passed away when Charlotte Denman Lozier was in her teens, and Charlotte became a caretaker for her family. Charlotte contributed to her family by teaching.

Education

In 1864, Charlotte Denman Lozier, 20 years of age, moved back east to New York to pursue a medical degree. Charlotte began her medical career by entering the

New York Medical College for Women New York Medical College (NYMC or New York Med) is a private medical school in Valhalla, New York. Founded in 1860, it is a member of the Touro College and University System. NYMC offers advanced degrees through its three schools: the School o ...

. New York Medical College for Women was the first medical school for women in the state of New York and opened the year before she entered the school. New York Medical College for Women was founded by her mother-in-law, Dr.

Clemence Sophia Harned Lozier Clemence Sophia Harned Lozier (December 11, 1813 — April 26, 1888) was an American physician who founded the New York Medical College and Hospital for Women. Dr. Lozier was also a noted feminist and activist, and served as president of the New Y ...

Early adulthood

Dr. Charlotte Denman Lozier finished medical school in 1867 and soon became a professor of physiology and hygiene for New York Medical College for Women. While working as a professor, Charlotte also presented many lectures on women's rights. Charlotte Denman Lozier married the son of Dr. Clemence Lozier, Dr. Abraham Witton Lozier on January 20, 1866, in Ft. Wayne, Indiana. The two remained in Winona for some time before returning to New York where Charlotte then became the Vice President of the National Working Women's Association. As a

feminist Feminism is a range of socio-political movements and ideologies that aim to define and establish the political, economic, personal, and social equality of the sexes. Feminism incorporates the position that society prioritizes the male po ...

, she campaigned for

Women's Suffrage Women's suffrage is the right of women to vote in elections. Beginning in the start of the 18th century, some people sought to change voting laws to allow women to vote. Liberal political parties would go on to grant women the right to vot ...

and the Working Women's Association as well as other progressive and charitable organizations. Charlotte Denman Lozier and Abraham Lozier had three children. The first born was a boy, Clement Abraham on November 7, 1866. Clement Abraham died at the age of 21. The next to be born was another boy, Robert Ten Eyck, in May 1868 in Connecticut while Dr. Charlotte Denman Lozier was on her way home from a lecture. The last to be born was a girl, Jessie Charlotte, born on January 1, 1870. Jessie Charlotte married Harry S. Payne on January 15, 1896. Jessie and Harry Payne had one son born on July 3, 1898, named Robert Lozier Payne.

Career

Lozier worked as a physician, lecturer, and belonged to

Sorosis Sorosis Club rules in 1869 Sorosis was the first professional women's club in the United States. It was established in March 1868 in New York City. History The club was organized in New York City with 12 members in March 1868, by Jane Cunningham ...

, which in Latin means sisterhood. Sorosis was a professional women's club, which sought to support women involved in various fields of work. Lozier also served as the first Vice President of the National Working Women's Association. The

Working Women's Association The Working Women's Association (WWA) was formed in New York City on September 17, 1868 in the offices of ''The Revolution'', a women's rights newspaper established earlier that year by Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony. Its stated purp ...

was created in 1868 and was formed to protect the rights of women, including better labor conditions for women of all classes. In the late 1860s, Charlotte Denman Lozier defended

Hester Vaughn Hester Vaughn, or Vaughan, was a domestic servant in Philadelphia who was arrested in 1868 on a charge of killing her newborn infant, and was sentenced to hang after being convicted of infanticide. ''The Revolution'', a women's rights newspaper es ...

, a woman accused of killing her newborn. Lozier was also well known for defending women such as Caroline Fuller, a young woman whose sexual partner was urging for an abortion.

Last years of life

In 1869, Charlotte was pregnant with her third child. On New Year's Eve, Charlotte was on a ladder hanging a curtain when she became light-headed and fell off of the ladder. Charlotte Denman Lozier was taken to the hospital where her third and final child was born two months prematurely. However, Charlotte passed away at age 25 on January 3, 1870. Lozier died from health complications surrounding the pregnancy and birth of her third child, who was born several days before she died. She was survived by this child, her two previous children, and her husband.

Notes

The ''Charlotte Lozier Institute'', an anti-abortion think tank, is named after Lozier.

References

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''Herald of Health''
obituary
''New York Times''
obituary {{DEFAULTSORT:Lozier, Charlotte Denman 1844 births 1870 deaths Burials at Green-Wood Cemetery American feminists Physicians from New York City American women physicians