Matilda Chaplin Ayrton (1846-1883) was a British physician, one of the earliest women to become a doctor. She spent her life pioneering the cause of women in medicine. She studied at London Medical College for Women, the University of Edinburgh and the University of Paris. She married William Edward Ayrton (1847-1908), in 1872. Their marriage had taken place while William was on home leave from India and Matilda was involved in the Edinburgh Seven campaign to open medical education to women. William was appointed to a professorship at a College in Japan, where Matilda followed. She wrote several books on Japan, before returning to England where she died, aged 37.