1900–1988
Beechwood Cemetery
Section 7 Lot 1346
Born in India in 1900, Anne Barrington entered medicine at a time when few women pursued the profession. At 18, she enrolled at one of India’s first institutions dedicated to training women doctors, Lady Hardinge Medical College in Delhi, founded in 1916 to break barriers in healthcare for women. By 26, she was a fully qualified physician and later advanced her studies in London, earning a Bachelor of Science and membership in the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons. She specialized in midwifery and surgery, enabling her to practice in England’s Midlands.
During World War II, Dr. Barrington served as an army doctor in the Middle East, providing critical care in challenging conditions. After the war, she returned to India to work with the Red Cross from 1945 to 1948, before immigrating to Canada in 1966. In Toronto, she joined the Addiction Research Foundation – predecessor to today’s Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) – contributing as a therapist until retiring at age 75.
Dr. Barrington passed away on May 9, 1988, at 87. Her life reflects resilience, dedication and compassion, an incredible life’s journey from India to Canada, helping to shape healthcare across continents.
Sources:
• Lady Hardinge Medical College – Wikipedia
• Mount Pleasant Group – Dr. Eleanor Anne Barrington
