Agnes Syme Lister

Agnes Syme Lister born in 1834 and died in 1893, was a botanist, wife and assistant to Joseph Lister.[1] Agnes was the daughter to Scottish Surgeon James Syme.

331x331pxA photograph of Agnes Lister

Early life

Agnes was born in Edinburgh, Midlothian Scotland in 1834 to James Syme and his first wife Anne, daughter of Robert Willis, of Leith, Edinburgh, and sister of the physician Robert Willis;[2] she was one of three only surviving children (nine of their children had died). Her mother died in 1840 after giving birth to their ninth child. Like her father, Agnes had a keen interest in science.[3]

Work, life and marriage with Joseph Lister
James Lister and Agnes Lister (formally Syme) seated together

Agnes and Joseph Lister met in Glasgow, whilst he was studying to be a surgeon[4] working as her father's assistant. Lister converted to the Scottish Episcopal Church in order to marry Agnes as she was not raised as a Quaker.[5] They married on the 23rd of April 1856 in Milbank Scotland. The couple began their honeymoon at Lister's childhood home in Upton Essex and then embarked on a three month tour of Europe. During this tour, it is thought to be the beginning of Agnes working as his assistant, writing his notes and findings in his case book whilst they traveled around Europe. The couple returned to Edinburgh in October 1856 and settled into their new home on number 11 Rutland Street.[6]

Not only would she write his finding, thoughts and ideas down but she was also his collaborator and partner in writing of many sources, between 1872-1877 such as:

  • Drawings on Fungi
  • Notes on academical lectures for his teachings in Glasgow and when addressing students [7]

Additionally during 1863-1894 they wrote common place books, the majority being in her handwriting. On subjects such as

Furthermore, Agnes Lister was also involved in a lot of Joseph Lister's experiments. They would both test different levels of chloroform (an early form of anesthesia) on each other in order to find the correct dosage for his patients.[8] The couple were also interested in botany and would often collect different specimens of plants whilst travelling around Europe together.[9] Botany was one of the few sciences deemed appropriate for women to study/partake in, in the 18th century. 53 herbarium sheets of plants belonging to Joseph Lister appear in both their hand writing.[10]

Although in good health, whilst holidaying in Rapallo Italy and botanizing, Agnes Lister contracted acute pneumonia.[11] Her condition deteriorated rapidly and she died four days later after being on holiday for only one week. Leaving Baron Lister as the only surviving member of their union as they did not have any children.[12]

Holiday Diary Entry by Agnes Lister

References
  1. "Agnes Syme Lister | Science Museum Group Collection". collection.sciencemuseumgroup.org.uk. Retrieved 2020-08-24.
  2. W. R. LeFanu: "Robert Willis – physician, librarian, medical historian", Proceedings of the XXIII International Congress of the History of Medicine, London, 2–9 September 1972, Volume 2, 1974, p. 1111
  3. "Four scientists remembered in stone". The Squirrelbasket. 2016-11-24. Retrieved 2020-10-14.
  4. "Joseph Lister". www.kcl.ac.uk. Retrieved 2020-08-24.
  5. Brand, Richard A. (2010). "Biographical Sketch: Baron Joseph Lister, FRCS, 1827–1912". Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research. 468 (8): 2009–2011. doi:10.1007/s11999-010-1319-3. ISSN 0009-921X. PMC 2895836. PMID 20364338.
  6. Godlee, Sir Rickman John (7 April 2009). Lord Lister (PDF). Oxford University Press. p. 58. ISBN 978-1-333-63431-5. Retrieved 24 January 2021.
  7. "SurgiCat | Details". surgicat.rcseng.ac.uk. Retrieved 2020-08-24.
  8. "Clinical trials and medical experiments". Science Museum. Retrieved 2020-08-25.
  9. "Meaningful matter". Science Museum. Retrieved 2020-08-25.
  10. "Dried specimen of prenanthes purpurea | Science Museum Group Collection". collection.sciencemuseumgroup.org.uk. Retrieved 2020-08-25.
  11. Godlee, Sir Rickman John (7 April 2009). Lord Lister (PDF). Oxford University Press. p. 525. ISBN 978-1-333-63431-5. Retrieved 24 January 2021.
  12. Dalrymple-Champneys, Weldon (1959). "Wives of Some Famous Doctors: President's Address". Proceedings of the Royal Society of Medicine. 52 (11): 937–946. doi:10.1177/003591575905201111. ISSN 0035-9157. S2CID 40694432.
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