Margaret Kennix
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Margaret Kennix (?–1585) was a Dutch woman who practiced
medicine Medicine is the science and Praxis (process), practice of caring for patients, managing the Medical diagnosis, diagnosis, prognosis, Preventive medicine, prevention, therapy, treatment, Palliative care, palliation of their injury or disease, ...
without a license in
London London is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of both England and the United Kingdom, with a population of in . London metropolitan area, Its wider metropolitan area is the largest in Wester ...
. She was censured repeatedly by the Royal College of Physicians but supported by Queen Elizabeth I.


Personal details

Kennix was an unlicensed
medical practitioner A physician, medical practitioner (British English), medical doctor, or simply doctor is a health professional who practices medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring health through the study, diagnosis, prognosis ...
during the
Elizabethan Era The Elizabethan era is the epoch in the Tudor period of the history of England during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I (1558–1603). Historians often depict it as the golden age in English history. The Roman symbol of Britannia (a female ...
in London. She had her own medical practice from the years 1571–1585. Margaret was not native to London, and she was known as a
Dutch Dutch or Nederlands commonly refers to: * Something of, from, or related to the Netherlands ** Dutch people as an ethnic group () ** Dutch nationality law, history and regulations of Dutch citizenship () ** Dutch language () * In specific terms, i ...
empiric who practiced medicine. It is believed that she lived on the street of Old Seacole Lane in London.


Career and difficulties

Margaret Kennix dealt with issues regarding her authority to practice medicine in London. She particularly dealt with the
Royal College of Physicians The Royal College of Physicians of London, commonly referred to simply as the Royal College of Physicians (RCP), is a British professional membership body dedicated to improving the practice of medicine, chiefly through the accreditation of ph ...
, then called the "President and College or Commonalty of the Faculty of Physic in London", which at the time had a strong presence in the city. The Royal College of Physicians was one of the main governing bodies in the field of medicine within.
King Henry VII Henry VII (28 January 1457 – 21 April 1509), also known as Henry Tudor, was King of England and Lord of Ireland from his seizure of the crown on 22 August 1485 until his death in 1509. He was the first monarch of the House of Tudor. Henry ...
established it as a
Royal Charter A royal charter is a formal grant issued by a monarch under royal prerogative as letters patent. Historically, they have been used to promulgate public laws, the most famous example being the English Magna Carta (great charter) of 1215, but ...
in 1518. The college attempted to put a complete stop to Margaret's medical practice. Margaret Kennix turned to the
royal family A royal family is the immediate family of monarchs and sometimes their extended family. The term imperial family appropriately describes the family of an emperor or empress, and the term papal family describes the family of a pope, while th ...
for help after the college had consistently attempted to shut down her practice entirely. Margaret knew that having someone in the royal family vouching for her was very beneficial.
Queen Elizabeth I Elizabeth I (7 September 153324 March 1603) was Queen of England and Ireland from 17 November 1558 until her death in 1603. She was the last and longest reigning monarch of the House of Tudor. Her eventful reign, and its effect on history ...
informed the college in 1581 of her support for Margaret Kennix.
Sir Francis Walsingham Sir Francis Walsingham ( – 6 April 1590) was principal secretary to Queen Elizabeth I of England from 20 December 1573 until his death and is popularly remembered as her " spymaster". Born to a well-connected family of gentry, Wa ...
informed the College of Queen Elizabeth's support for Margaret, and he listed two separate reasons as to why she should be allowed to practice medicine. The first reason was, "God has given her a special knowledge to the benefit of the poorer sort". He also informed the college that her family, "wholly depend on the exercise of her skill". This was due to Margaret's husband not being able to work. The college responded to this act of support with a resounding and stout answer. The writer for the college said that Margaret Kennix was an "outlandish, ignorant, sorry woman". The college also suggested that allowing Margaret Kennix to practice medicine would set a harmful standard and would be breaking the "Wholesome Laws" that prevent medical practices foreign to the College. The College believed her "weakness and insufficiency" were enough to warrant such a response. The final decision of the College remains unknown.


References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kennix, Margaret 1585 deaths 16th-century Dutch physicians Expatriates in the Kingdom of England 16th-century Dutch women