Elizabeth Jesser Reid

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Plaque in Bedford Square, London

Elizabeth Jesser Reid (born on 25. December 1789 in London as Elisabeth Jesser Sturch , died on 1. April 1866 was) an English social reformer and early feminist who are against slavery in the United Kingdom began. She is known to this day for the founding of Bedford College in London.

Life

Elisabeth Jesser Sturch was the daughter of William Sturch, a wealthy Unitarian trader and author. In June 1821 she married the also wealthy doctor Dr. John Reid, who owned property in Glasgow . He died in July 1822 and left the widow his fortune, which she used from then on for charitable purposes.

She campaigned against slavery and took part in the First World Anti-Slavery Assembly in 1840, where she met Lucretia Mott , among others . She was very interested in the outcome of the American Civil War and the continental revolutions of 1848, for example in France, Germany and Italy.

In 1849 Reid founded Ladies' College Bedford Square , now Bedford College in London, a women-only, non-denominational and liberal institution for higher education. This was a first for Britain at the time, and Bedford College played a key role in the early women's rights movement. Prominent contemporary supporters of the idea included Harriet Martineau and Frances Lupton . Originally Reid had started the college on just a £ 1,500 loan , but when financial difficulties arose in 1856, she did not insist on repayment.

After her death in 1866, Reid left a foundation that continued to award educational grants to women into the 20th century. In 1877 Bedford College received approval to conduct pre-exams and thus to award college admissions. Bedford College was merged with the University of London in 1900 and merged within this institution with the Royal Holloway in 1985 . One of the residential facilities on campus is named after Reid.

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b Antonius Lux (ed.): Great women of world history. A thousand biographies in words and pictures . Sebastian Lux Verlag , Munich 1963, p. 388.
personal data
SURNAME Reid, Elizabeth Jesser
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Sturch, Elisabeth Jesser
BRIEF DESCRIPTION English social reformer and early women's rights activist
DATE OF BIRTH December 25, 1789
PLACE OF BIRTH London
DATE OF DEATH April 1, 1866