Elizabeth Jesser Reid (/riːd/; née Sturch; 25 December 1789 – 1 April 1866), forename sometimes spelled Elisabeth, was an English social reformer, anti-slavery activist and philanthropist.[1] She is best remembered as the founder of Bedford College.
Elizabeth Jesser Reid | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | Elizabeth Jesser Sturch 25 December 1789 London, England |
| Died | 1 April 1866 (aged 76) London, England |
| Nationality | British |
| Other names | Elisabeth Jesser Sturch |
| Occupation | Philanthropist |
| Known for | founder of Bedford College |
| Spouse | Dr John Reid |
Biography
editEarly life
editElisabeth Jesser Sturch was born in 1789 in London. Her father, William Sturch, was a wealthy Unitarian ironmonger.[2]
In 1821, she married Dr John Reid.[3] Dr Reid had inherited land in Northumbria and on the River Clyde at Glasgow that had become valuable as the port grew in size. His death in July 1822 gave her an independent income, which she used to help various philanthropic causes.
Activism
editActive in liberal Unitarian circles, Reid was an anti-slavery activist, attending the World Anti-Slavery Convention in London in 1840.[2] She met Lucretia Mott and the other American female delegates who had been denied the right to speak at the convention.[4] and taking a close interest in the American Civil War. She was also in contact with leading figures in the revolutions in France and Germany in 1848, and the struggles for Italian independence.
Women's higher education
editIn 1849, Reid founded Bedford College at 47 Bedford Square in the Bloomsbury area of London.[5] The college was a women-only higher education institution that aimed to provide a liberal and non-sectarian education for female students – something no other institution in the United Kingdom offered at the time. Bedford College played a leading role in the advancement of women in higher education, and in public life in general. The National Archives U.K. holds a number of letters written to Reid that reference noted Victorian advocates of female education, including Harriet Martineau and Frances Lupton.[6] Reid also founded the Reid Trust, which continues to support women's education with small grants to this day.[7]
Reid died in 1866, leaving her remaining wealth in a trust fund for the college. Reid had insisted on women being involved with the governance of the college[8] and there were three women trustees including her friend Elizabeth Anne Bostock, educationalist Eleanor Smith and Jane Martineau.[9][10]
Legacy
edit
There is a green plaque on Reid's house in Bedford Square.[11][12]
Bedford College became a college of the University of London in 1900, and merged with Royal Holloway College in 1985 to become Royal Holloway and Bedford New College. One of the halls of residence on the current campus is named "Reid Hall" in memory of the Bedford College founder.
Her letters are held at The Royal Holloway Archives.[3]
References
edit- ^ ResearchGate website, University Work: Re-Forming Manuscripts in Elizabeth Jesser Reid’s Correspondence Networks, article by Katie McGettigan, published in the Journal of Victorian Culture, 2022, Vol. 27, No. 1, page 160
- ^ a b National Archives website, Papers of Elizabeth Jesser Reid (1789-1866)
- ^ a b Royal Holloway website, Elizabeth Jesser Reid'’
- ^ Sybil Oldfield, "Reid , Elisabeth Jesser (1789–1866)", rev. Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004; online edn, May 2011, accessed 30 July 2015.
- ^ Art UK website, Modern Portraits for Modern Women: Principals and Pioneers from the Royal Holloway and Bedford New College Art Collection
- ^ "Letter to EAB (Eliza Bostock) from Frances Elizabeth Lupton about the memorial about Cambridge Examinations. PP40/4/1/124 16 March 1864 - letter from Frances Lupton to Eliza Bostock - co-founder with Elizabeth Jesser Reid of Bedford College, London. Also in collection of National Archives - many letters from Frances Lupton's aunt, Harriet Martineau to Elizabeth Jesser Reid". Papers of Elizabeth Jesser Reid (1789-1866). National Archives UK. Retrieved 2 March 2013.
- ^ The Reid Trust website, Who We Are
- ^ "Elisabeth Jesser Reid". University of London. Retrieved 7 April 2020.
- ^ "Bostock, Elizabeth Anne [Eliza] (1817–1898), promoter of women's education". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. 2004. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/52743. Retrieved 7 April 2020. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
- ^ Pascal Theatre website, Elizabeth Anne (Eliza) Bostock 1817 - 1898
- ^ London Remembers website, Bedford College & E Jesser Reid
- ^ Historical Markers Database website, Bedford College for Women
External links
edit- History of Royal Holloway and Bedford New College
- Genesis website page on Reid's archived papers Archived 5 February 2012 at the Wayback Machine
- Genesis website page on Bedford College's archived papers Archived 5 February 2012 at the Wayback Machine
- Beginnings website page on history of Bedford College