Hannah Amelia Wright

Hannah Amelia Wright (1836 – 1924) was a American physician, and the first female doctor to be appointed as an examiner in a state asylum.

Hannah Amelia Wright was born in New York City on August 18, 1836. She was the daughter of Charles Cushing Wright (1796–1854) and Lavinia Delliber Huguenot (died July 6, 1860). Her father was a native of Damariscotta, Maine. Her mother was born in Charleston, S. C., and was a direct descendant of the second settlers of that city, the Huguenots. Her father was an artist of note and an engraver; 17 of his medals are currently in the permanent collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Charles Cushing Wright has been called "The First American Medalist"; he did his apprenticeship with a silversmith in Utica, New York, and then opened Durand and Wright, Engravers, in partnership with Asher Brown Durand. Wright was one of the "First Fifteen" founders of the National Academy of Design.

Hannah received her education at home. Until her thirteenth year she lived in Louisiana, but returned to New York in 1849.

Wright began an independent career by writing fiction. Her stories were published, but she turned her attention to music.

In 1860 Wright obtained a position as teacher of music in the New York Institute for the Blind. After eleven years teaching, she was preparing to go abroad to study music, when she became interested in the care of the insane. She decided to study medicine.

In 1871 Wright entered the New York Medical College for Women and graduated in 1874. She organized the college's alumni association serving for several years as its secretary and afterward as its presiding officer. Shortly after graduation, Wright tried for a position in one of the State asylums for the insane as an assistant physician, but she was refused the position twice on the contention that women were not eligible. In 1878 Wright obtained the position of "examiner in lunacy", being the first woman to be appointed in that role.

Wright was successful, establishing a large and remunerative practice. Realizing the necessity for women physicians in the field of gynecology, she devoted herself to that branch of the practice of medicine as a specialist.

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