Isabel Galloway Emslie Hutton, Lady Hutton
CBE
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding contributions to the arts and sciences, work with charitable and welfare organisations,
and public service outside the civil service. It was established o ...
(11 September 1887 – 11 January 1960), previously Isabel Galloway Emslie, was a Scottish physician who specialised in
mental health
Mental health encompasses emotional, psychological, and social well-being, influencing cognition, perception, and behavior. It likewise determines how an individual handles stress, interpersonal relationships, and decision-making. Mental hea ...
and
social work
Social work is an academic discipline and practice-based profession concerned with meeting the basic needs of individuals, families, groups, communities, and society as a whole to enhance their individual and collective well-being. Social wo ...
.
[McConnell, Anita (2004) "Hutton, Isabel Galloway Emslie , Lady Hutton (1887–1960)" in ''Oxford Dictionary of National Biography'', Oxford University Press ] Emslie served leading units in Dr.
Elsie Inglis
Eliza Maud "Elsie" Inglis (16 August 1864 – 26 November 1917) was a Scottish doctor, surgeon, teacher, suffragist, and founder of the Scottish Women's Hospitals. She was the first woman to hold the Serbian Order of the White Eagle.
Early ...
's
Scottish Women's Hospitals for Foreign Service
The Scottish Women's Hospitals for Foreign Services (SWH) was founded in 1914. It was led by Dr. Elsie Inglis and provided nurses, doctors, ambulance drivers, cooks and orderlies. By the end of World War I, 14 medical units had been outfitted and ...
in the front line in
World War I
World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was List of wars and anthropogenic disasters by death toll, one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, ...
and won awards from the British, Serbian, Russian and French. Emslie married British military officer Lt General Sir
Thomas Jacomb Hutton.
Early life and education
Isabel Galloway Emslie was born in
Edinburgh
Edinburgh ( ; gd, Dùn Èideann ) is the capital city of Scotland and one of its 32 Council areas of Scotland, council areas. Historically part of the county of Midlothian (interchangeably Edinburghshire before 1921), it is located in Lothian ...
in 1887. She was the eldest daughter of James Emslie,
advocate and Deputy Keeper of the
Privy Seal of Scotland
A privy seal refers to the personal seal of a reigning monarch, used for the purpose of authenticating official documents of a much more personal nature. This is in contrast with that of a great seal, which is used for documents of greater impor ...
. She was educated at
Edinburgh Ladies' College, then enrolled at the
University of Edinburgh
The University of Edinburgh ( sco, University o Edinburgh, gd, Oilthigh Dhùn Èideann; abbreviated as ''Edin.'' in post-nominals) is a public research university based in Edinburgh, Scotland. Granted a royal charter by King James VI in 15 ...
, where she trained in the women's medical school, spending her hospital residence years at the
Edinburgh Royal Infirmary
The Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, or RIE, often (but incorrectly) known as the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary, or ERI, was established in 1729 and is the oldest voluntary hospital in Scotland. The new buildings of 1879 were claimed to be the largest v ...
. In 1910, she graduated with a degree in medicine and in 1912 was awarded her
MD degrees with a thesis titled "Wassermann sero-diagnosis of syphilis in 200 cases of insanity".
Career
While completing her thesis, Emslie worked as a
pathologist
Pathology is the study of the causes and effects of disease or injury. The word ''pathology'' also refers to the study of disease in general, incorporating a wide range of biology research fields and medical practices. However, when used in t ...
at the
Stirling District Asylum, then moved to the
Royal Hospital for Sick Children before becoming the first woman to be appointed in charge of the women's medicine of the
Royal Edinburgh Hospital
The Royal Edinburgh Hospital is a psychiatric hospital in Morningside Place, Edinburgh, Scotland. It is managed by NHS Lothian.
History
The "foundational myth" has it that the hospital was founded by Dr Andrew Duncan, following the death of ...
.
In 1915, she joined the
Scottish Women's Hospitals Organisation and served in France at the Domaine de Chanteloup,
Sainte-Savine
Sainte-Savine () is a commune in the Aube department in north-central France.
Population
See also
* Communes of the Aube department
The following is a list of the 431 communes of the Aube department of France.
The communes cooperate in ...
, near
Troyes
Troyes () is a commune and the capital of the department of Aube in the Grand Est region of north-central France. It is located on the Seine river about south-east of Paris. Troyes is situated within the Champagne wine region and is near ...
, then with the
French Army
The French Army, officially known as the Land Army (french: Armée de Terre, ), is the land-based and largest component of the French Armed Forces. It is responsible to the Government of France, along with the other components of the Armed Force ...
’s
Armee d'Orient in
Salonika
Thessaloniki (; el, Θεσσαλονίκη, , also known as Thessalonica (), Saloniki, or Salonica (), is the second-largest city in Greece, with over one million inhabitants in its Thessaloniki metropolitan area, metropolitan area, and the capi ...
, distinguishing herself by leading the unit which accompanied the
Serbian army
The Serbian Army ( sr-cyr, Копнена војска Србије, Kopnena vojska Srbije, lit=Serbian Land Army) is the land-based and the largest component of the Serbian Armed Forces.
History
Originally established in 1830 as the Army of Pr ...
during the
First World War
World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fig ...
.
Following the closure of the Serbian hospital where she worked, Emslie took over
Lady Muriel Paget's mission in
Crimea
Crimea, crh, Къырым, Qırım, grc, Κιμμερία / Ταυρική, translit=Kimmería / Taurikḗ ( ) is a peninsula in Ukraine, on the northern coast of the Black Sea, that has been occupied by Russia since 2014. It has a p ...
. In this role, she brought several orphaned children to
Constantinople
la, Constantinopolis ota, قسطنطينيه
, alternate_name = Byzantion (earlier Greek name), Nova Roma ("New Rome"), Miklagard/Miklagarth ( Old Norse), Tsargrad ( Slavic), Qustantiniya (Arabic), Basileuousa ("Queen of Cities"), Megalopolis ( ...
(now Istanbul) and organised relief for Russian refugees. In 1928, she published ''With a Woman's Unit in Serbia, Salonika and Sebastopol'', an account of these years.
For her work during this period, she was awarded the Serbian orders of the
White Eagle White Eagle(s) may refer to:
History and politics
* Coat of arms of Poland, a white eagle
* Crusade of Romanianism, or White Eagles, a 1930s far-right movement in Romania
* Task Force White Eagle, a Polish military unit during the War in Afghanist ...
and
St. Sava
Saint Sava ( sr, Свети Сава, Sveti Sava, ; Old Church Slavonic: ; gr, Άγιος Σάββας; 1169 or 1174 – 14 January 1236), known as the Enlightener, was a Serbian prince and Orthodox monk, the first Archbishop of the autocephalous ...
, the French
Croix de Guerre
The ''Croix de Guerre'' (, ''Cross of War'') is a military decoration of France. It was first created in 1915 and consists of a square-cross medal on two crossed swords, hanging from a ribbon with various degree pins. The decoration was first awa ...
, and the
Order of St. Anna
The Imperial Order of Saint Anna (russian: Орден Святой Анны; also "Order of Saint Anne" or "Order of Saint Ann") was a Holstein ducal and then Russian imperial order of chivalry. It was established by Karl Friedrich, Duke of Hols ...
of Russia.
On her return to Edinburgh in 1920, she was reinstated to her former post at the
Royal Edinburgh Hospital
The Royal Edinburgh Hospital is a psychiatric hospital in Morningside Place, Edinburgh, Scotland. It is managed by NHS Lothian.
History
The "foundational myth" has it that the hospital was founded by Dr Andrew Duncan, following the death of ...
but resigned the position after her marriage the following year to
Major Thomas Hutton.
She then moved to
London
London is the capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary dow ...
, working as a researcher the
Maudsley Hospital
The Maudsley Hospital is a British psychiatric hospital in south London. The Maudsley is the largest mental health training institution in the UK. It is part of South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, and works in partnership with the ...
which led to a research paper with
Sir Frederick Mott, and honorary consultancies at the Maudsley and the
West End Hospital for Nervous Disease. In October 1939, she was living in
Marylebone
Marylebone (usually , also , ) is a district in the West End of London, in the City of Westminster. Oxford Street, Europe's busiest shopping street, forms its southern boundary.
An ancient parish and latterly a metropolitan borough, it m ...
and was registered as a consultant physician. In 1940, she published ''Mental Disorders in Modern Life'', drawing on her experience from these roles.
During the
Second World War
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the World War II by country, vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great power ...
, she joined her husband in India and took up the post of director of the Indian Red Cross welfare service, also undertaking charity work, broadcasting, and dispatches for the external affairs department. She returned to England in 1946. In 1948, she was appointed as a
Commander of the Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding contributions to the arts and sciences, work with charitable and welfare organisations,
and public service outside the civil service. It was established ...
.
Becoming a senior consultant, Hutton was elected a
Fellow of the Royal Society of Medicine
A fellow is a concept whose exact meaning depends on context.
In learned or professional societies, it refers to a privileged member who is specially elected in recognition of their work and achievements.
Within the context of higher educationa ...
and a member of the
Royal Medico-Psychological Association.
She died on 11 January 1960 at her home in London. She was buried with her parents in the
Grange Cemetery in south Edinburgh. Her gravestone, sculpted by
Pilkington Jackson
Charles d’Orville Pilkington Jackson RSA, FRBS, FRSA (11 October 1887 – 20 September 1973) was a British sculptor prominent in Scotland in the 20th Century. Throughout his career he worked closely with the architect Sir Robert Lorimer. He i ...
, stands near the centre of the south-west extension.
Selected works
* ''With a Woman's Unit in Serbia, Salonika and Sebastopol'', 1928
* ''Mental Disorders in Modern Life'', 1940
* autobiography, ''Memoirs of a Doctor in War and Peace'', 1960.
Awards and honours

* In 2015, a Serbian postage stamp was released to honour her work during the war.
* Serbian orders of the
White Eagle White Eagle(s) may refer to:
History and politics
* Coat of arms of Poland, a white eagle
* Crusade of Romanianism, or White Eagles, a 1930s far-right movement in Romania
* Task Force White Eagle, a Polish military unit during the War in Afghanist ...
and
St. Sava
Saint Sava ( sr, Свети Сава, Sveti Sava, ; Old Church Slavonic: ; gr, Άγιος Σάββας; 1169 or 1174 – 14 January 1236), known as the Enlightener, was a Serbian prince and Orthodox monk, the first Archbishop of the autocephalous ...
* French
Croix de Guerre
The ''Croix de Guerre'' (, ''Cross of War'') is a military decoration of France. It was first created in 1915 and consists of a square-cross medal on two crossed swords, hanging from a ribbon with various degree pins. The decoration was first awa ...
*
Order of St. Anna
The Imperial Order of Saint Anna (russian: Орден Святой Анны; also "Order of Saint Anne" or "Order of Saint Ann") was a Holstein ducal and then Russian imperial order of chivalry. It was established by Karl Friedrich, Duke of Hols ...
of Russia
* 1948,
CBE
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding contributions to the arts and sciences, work with charitable and welfare organisations,
and public service outside the civil service. It was established o ...
* in the city of
Vranje
Vranje ( sr-Cyrl, Врање, ) is a city in Southern Serbia and the administrative center of the Pčinja District. The municipality of Vranje has a population of 83,524 and its urban area has 60,485 inhabitants.
Vranje is the economical, poli ...
, Serbia the località Medicine High School brings her name in her honour.
See also
*
People on Scottish banknotes
*
Elsie Inglis Memorial Maternity Hospital
The Elsie Inglis Memorial Maternity Hospital was a maternity hospital in Holyrood, Edinburgh, Scotland.
History
The hospital was established with surplus funds arising from disbandment of the Scottish Women's Hospitals for Foreign Service, an o ...
*
Scottish Women's Hospitals for Foreign Service
The Scottish Women's Hospitals for Foreign Services (SWH) was founded in 1914. It was led by Dr. Elsie Inglis and provided nurses, doctors, ambulance drivers, cooks and orderlies. By the end of World War I, 14 medical units had been outfitted and ...
*
Eveline Haverfield
*
Elizabeth Ness MacBean Ross
*
Leila Paget
*
Mabel St Clair Stobart
Mabel Annie St Clair Stobart ( Boulton; 3 February 1862 – 7 December 1954) was a British suffragist and aid-worker. She created and commanded all-women medical units to serve in the Balkan Wars and the First World War. She became the firs ...
*
Josephine Bedford
Mary Josephine Bedford (1861 – 22 December 1955) was a philanthropist in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, who was involved in family welfare and children's development through her involvement with the Playground Association and the Crèche an ...
*
Katherine Harley
*
Elsie Inglis
Eliza Maud "Elsie" Inglis (16 August 1864 – 26 November 1917) was a Scottish doctor, surgeon, teacher, suffragist, and founder of the Scottish Women's Hospitals. She was the first woman to hold the Serbian Order of the White Eagle.
Early ...
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hutton, Isabel Emslie
1887 births
1960 deaths
20th-century Scottish medical doctors
20th-century women physicians
British women in World War I
Scottish women medical doctors
Recipients of the Order of St. Sava
Recipients of the Croix de Guerre 1914–1918 (France)
Scottish psychiatrists
Female recipients of the Croix de Guerre (France)
Commanders of the Order of the British Empire
Fellows of the Royal Society of Medicine
Scottish Women's Hospitals for Foreign Service volunteers
20th-century British non-fiction writers
Scottish medical writers
20th-century Scottish women writers