America 250: Defying Destiny - Mary Edwards Walker

Dr. Mary Edwards Walker pushed the boundaries of medicine and courage, making history along the way.

Dr. Mary Edwards Walker (1832–1919) was the first and only woman to receive the Medal of Honor. During the Civil War, she served as a contract surgeon with the U.S. Army, becoming one of the first female Army surgeons. In 1864, she was captured by Confederate forces and held for several months at Castle Thunder prison in Richmond. She was later released in a prisoner exchange and returned to her medical duties. President Andrew Johnson awarded her the Medal of Honor in 1865, though it was revoked in 1917 and restored posthumously in 1977. After the war, Walker became a leading advocate for women’s rights and testified before Congress in support of women’s suffrage.