Anne (Radcliffe) Mowlson facts for kids

Lady Anne Moulson (1576–1661) was an important person who helped Harvard College when it was just starting. Today, a famous college for women, Radcliffe College, is named after her.

Who Was Lady Anne Moulson?

Anne Radcliffe was born in 1576. Her father was Anthony Radcliffe from London. In 1600, she married Thomas Moulson. He was a successful businessman and later became the Lord Mayor of London in 1634. The Lord Mayor is like the main leader of the city.

Her Life and Family

Anne and Thomas Moulson owned an inn in London. An inn was a place where travelers could stay and eat. They had two children, but sadly, both of them died when they were young.

Thomas Moulson passed away in 1638. He left half of his money and property to Anne. She was very good at business. For the next 23 years, she managed her own affairs. She continued to run the inn. She also loaned money to people and invested in businesses that brought goods from other countries.

Helping Others and Harvard

Anne Moulson was also very active in helping others. She supported the Puritan cause, which was a religious movement at the time. She gave money to hire a special speaker for her church. She also gave a lot of money to other charities.

In 1643, Anne Moulson made a very important donation. She gave money to Harvard College. This gift created the very first scholarship at Harvard. A scholarship helps students pay for their education.

Later, in 1894, a special part of Harvard University was created for women. It became a full college and was named Radcliffe College. It was named in honor of Anne Moulson because she was the first woman to give a major gift to Harvard.