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Louis Borchardt (1816/7 – 15 November 1883) was a German-born physician and paediatrician, who became prominent in Manchester. He was an active supporter of suffrage and an advocate for women's equal standing in the medical profession.
Borchardt settled in Manchester in 1852, and—according to his obituary in The BMJ—"soon made a mark on account of his knowledge, independence of character, high intelligence, and excellent professional information." The year after his arrival, Borchardt began to work with the Children's Dispensary, which later became the Children's Hospital at Pendlebury, a much-admired institution. Borchardt was Honorary Physician of the hospital and dispensary for a quarter of a century. The 'Borchardt Ward' was named in his honour, and a marble bust of Borchardt was placed in the hospital.
Borchardt was a member of the British Medical Association's Council and became President of its Lancashire and Cheshire Branch. He was also President of the Manchester Medical Society and served on the Executive Committee of the Manchester Nurse-Training Institution from its founding in 1866.
At the Association meeting in Bath in 1878, he was a convinced advocate for the admission of medical women to an equal footing with medical men in the profession and the Association. He was an active and energetic friend of the organisation of provident medical dispensaries. He never shied away from facing unpopularity and did not hesitate to publicly advocate opinions that he believed to be just and liberal, even in the face of hostile majorities.Borchardt was active in Liberal politics: President of the Withington branch of the South East Lancashire Liberal Association, and chairman of the St Ann's branch of the Manchester Liberal Association. He also became, in 1860, the first chairman of the Manchester Schiller Anstalt, an Anglo-German gentleman's club whose members included Friedrich Engels. Borchardt was acquainted with both Engels and Karl Marx and is mentioned in their correspondence.
Borchardt died at his home in Fallowfield, Manchester, on 15 November 1883. He was buried five days later in the nonconformist section of Southern Cemetery, Manchester. An obituary printed in the British Medical Journal said:
He leaves behind him the reputation of a man of honour, honesty, courage, public spirit, and intelligence. Such characteristics are apt to lead a man through thorny paths, but they also lead him to the goal of duty and usefulness. Dr. Borchardt won the palm he coveted; he lived honoured and respected, and in his death, he leaves a name which his friends and family will long cherish.
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