Elizabeth Gooking Greenleaf (November 11, 1681 – November 11, 1762 [1]) was the first female apothecary in the Thirteen Colonies. [2] She is considered to be the first female pharmacist in the United States. [2]
Elizabeth Gooking was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts Colony in 1681, the daughter of Samuel and Mary Gooking. [1] She married minister, physician, and apothecary Daniel Greenleaf (a Harvard graduate) in 1699. [2] [3] The couple had twelve children. [4]
In 1727, Elizabeth moved to Boston to open an apothecary shop. Though this was a role which had been exclusively performed by men, Massachusetts did not have any laws in place to prevent women from practicing. [4] This made her the only woman among the 32 apothecaries working in New England at the time. [3]
Later in 1727, Daniel moved to Boston to join her after resigning his post as pastor of the Congregational Church in Yarmouth. They ran the shop together for several decades. [2]
Elizabeth Gooking Greenleaf died in 1762, followed by her husband in 1763. [2]
She was one of 17 women to be honored by the American Pharmacists Association in 2012, for "contributions to the profession and advancement of women in pharmacy." [5]
Elizabeth Gooking Greenleaf (November 11, 1681 – November 11, 1762 [1]) was the first female apothecary in the Thirteen Colonies. [2] She is considered to be the first female pharmacist in the United States. [2]
Elizabeth Gooking was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts Colony in 1681, the daughter of Samuel and Mary Gooking. [1] She married minister, physician, and apothecary Daniel Greenleaf (a Harvard graduate) in 1699. [2] [3] The couple had twelve children. [4]
In 1727, Elizabeth moved to Boston to open an apothecary shop. Though this was a role which had been exclusively performed by men, Massachusetts did not have any laws in place to prevent women from practicing. [4] This made her the only woman among the 32 apothecaries working in New England at the time. [3]
Later in 1727, Daniel moved to Boston to join her after resigning his post as pastor of the Congregational Church in Yarmouth. They ran the shop together for several decades. [2]
Elizabeth Gooking Greenleaf died in 1762, followed by her husband in 1763. [2]
She was one of 17 women to be honored by the American Pharmacists Association in 2012, for "contributions to the profession and advancement of women in pharmacy." [5]