(née Webb)

Local politician, social reformer

7 August 1843 – 14 June 1909

Some Key Achievements and Interests

1886 Polled 813 votes in election for guardian for parish of St. Martin-in-the-Fields, finishing just below the last of ten winners.

1887 Ran in the election again, winning and becoming the first female guardian on the Strand poor-law union board.

1887 Elected to Finance and General Commissions Committees for the Strand board.  Gained a high-profile in London government particularly in relation to the treatment of girls and women and part women could play in local government.

1888 Unsuccessful independent candidacy for the London School Board for Westminster. Her main campaign mission was tackling excessive expenditure.

1888 Refused invitation to run for the London County Council when asked by Annie Leigh Brown from the Society for Promoting the Return of Women as County Councillors).

1891 Second unsuccessful campaign for school board elections.

1894 Joined the vestry for St. Martin-in-the-Fields.

1896 Elected to the vestry’s Works and General Purposes Committee, dealing with infrastructure planning followed by other committees until by 1899 served on all but one of the vestry committees.

1899 Unseated when found guilty of a technical infringement in her election process. This punishment generated public concern over its severity compared to that of other petitions, and generated discussion of her treatment specifically as a female politician.

1909 Unsuccessful candidacy for the London County Council.

Issues

Extremely concerned about the welfare, treatment and opportunities open to girls and women. Highly critical of excessive expenditure by local government to the detriment of the tax payer.

1909 Committed suicide.

Connection to Bloomsbury

1881 Moved to live with her mother  at 53 Sidmouth Street, Bloomsbury London

Female Networks include:

Louisa Tempe Mallet, Emma Stevens, Margaret Painton

Further Reading:

Oxford Bibliography – Evans [née Webb], Matilda Maria