Queer Places:
1 Wolsey Ln, Fleckney, Leicester LE8 8BR, UK
Frances "Fanny" Elizabeth Deacon (née Potter; September 17, 1837 - January 15, 1930) was a pioneering English pharmacist who holds the historical distinction of being the
first woman to qualify for registration with the Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain (PSGB) by examination.
Born on September 17, 1837, in Kibworth Beauchamp, Leicestershire, Fanny was the daughter of William Potter, a chemist and druggist. She grew up in a family already established in the profession, and as a young woman, she worked alongside her father in his pharmacy, gaining hands-on experience in dispensing and compounding prescriptions.
The passage of the Pharmacy Act of 1868 was a turning point for the profession in the UK, as it made registration with the Pharmaceutical Society compulsory for those practicing as pharmacists.
To accommodate practitioners already working in the field, the Society introduced a "Modified" exam. On February 5, 1869, Fanny Potter sat for and passed this examination.
She appeared on the official register in 1870. While many other women were included in the first compulsory register, they typically gained entry because they were already in business (often taking over from deceased husbands or fathers). Fanny was the first woman to earn her place specifically by passing the qualifying examination.
Despite her qualification, Fanny—like all female pharmacists of the time—was not permitted to become a member of the Pharmaceutical Society. The profession remained heavily male-dominated, and women were excluded from the Society's organizational and decision-making roles until policy changes in 1879.
In 1875, she married Abraham Deacon, a minister, and moved to the village of Fleckney, Leicestershire. She opened her own pharmacy at 1 Wolsey Lane, where she served the local community for decades.
Fanny continued to work in her pharmacy until the end of her life. When she passed away on January 15, 1930, at the age of 92, she was recognized as the oldest registered chemist in England.
Her legacy as a trailblazer was honored in June 2022, when a "Green Plaque" was unveiled by the Leicestershire County Council at her former pharmacy site in Fleckney to commemorate her contributions to the field.
Her career serves as a significant milestone in the history of pharmacy, marking a crucial step in the long movement toward gender equality within medical and scientific professions in the United Kingdom.
References:
Support this project
This website is a passion project researched, developed, and funded entirely by me. If you find the content valuable and would like to help support the ongoing research and hosting costs, any contribution is deeply appreciated.
Thank you for keeping this independent resource alive!
My books on Amazon: Elisa Rolle's books