Barbara Bodichon facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Barbara Bodichon
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Barbara Bodichon portrait by Samuel Laurence
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Barbara Leigh Smith
8 April 1827 Whatlington, Sussex, England, United Kingdom
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| Died | 11 June 1891 (aged 64) Robertsbridge, Sussex, England, United Kingdom
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| Nationality | British |
| Known for | founder Girton College, Cambridge, Portman Hall School in Paddington, United Kingdom |
Barbara Leigh Smith Bodichon (born April 8, 1827 – died June 11, 1891) was an English teacher and artist. She was also a very important leader in the mid-1800s for women's rights. She wrote a powerful book called Brief Summary of the Laws of England concerning Women in 1854. This book helped change laws for women. She also helped start the English Woman's Journal in 1858. Later, Bodichon helped create Girton College, Cambridge in 1869, which was one of the first colleges for women.
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Her Family and Early Life
Barbara Bodichon was born to Anne Longden and Benjamin (Ben) Leigh Smith. Her father, Ben Smith, was a politician who believed in new ideas. He was also against slavery. Barbara's birth was unusual for the time because her parents were not married.
Ben Smith owned land near Hastings, England. Even though he was a wealthy landowner, he had very modern ideas. He supported free trade and helped poor people. In 1826, he paid to build a school for poor children in Westminster. He also helped pay their school fees.
Barbara's mother, Anne, became sick and died in 1834. Ben Smith did something very special for his children. He sent all of them, boys and girls, to the local school. This was unusual because most wealthy families sent their sons to special schools. He also shared his money equally with all his children. Each child received £300 a year when they turned 21. This gave Barbara a lot of freedom.
Fighting for Women's Rights
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Barbara was a strong and kind person from a young age. Her own money allowed her to be more independent than most women. In the 1850s, Barbara and her friends in London started meeting regularly. They talked about women's rights. This group became known as "The Ladies of Langham Place." It was one of the first organized women's groups in Britain.
They worked hard for many causes. One important cause was changing laws about married women's property. In 1854, Barbara published her book, Brief Summary of the Laws of England concerning Women. This book was very important. It helped lead to the Married Women's Property Act 1882. This law gave married women more control over their own money and property.
In 1857, Barbara married a French doctor named Eugène Bodichon. Even after marrying, she kept working for women's rights. She spent many winters in Algiers, but she still led the movements she had started in England.
In 1858, Bodichon started the English Woman's Journal. This magazine talked about jobs for women and equal rights. It focused on helping women find work and expanding their job choices. It also pushed for changes in laws about men and women.
Education and Art
Barbara Bodichon was a key leader in helping women get better education and political rights in the 1800s. She studied at the Ladies' College in Bedford Square in London. There, she learned to be a professional artist.
In 1852, Barbara opened the Portman Hall School in Paddington. She had studied other schools to make sure it was a good place for children to learn.
In 1866, Barbara worked with Emily Davies to create a plan for women to go to university. This idea led to the first small college experiment in Hitchin. This college later grew into Girton College, Cambridge. Barbara gave a lot of her time and money to Girton College.
Barbara also loved to paint. She studied with the artist William Holman Hunt. Her watercolor paintings were shown in art shows like the Royal Academy. Famous artists like Corot admired her work.
Barbara's home in London was a popular meeting place for many writers and artists. She was friends with the famous writer George Eliot. Barbara was one of the first people to know that George Eliot was the author of the book Adam Bede. Some people say that Barbara's looks inspired a character in Eliot's book Romola.
Fighting for the Right to Vote
On November 21, 1865, Barbara Bodichon helped start the idea of a new law. This law would give women the right to vote. She worked with Jessie Boucherett and Helen Taylor on this important goal.
Bodichon was part of the Langham Place Circle. This group of women artists worked for women's education, jobs, property rights, and the right to vote. In 1859, Barbara and other women artists asked to be allowed into the Royal Academy School. Their request was turned down. But in 1860, one artist, Laura Herford, applied using only her initials. She was accepted! This was a bit embarrassing for the Academy, but it meant women could finally study art there. More women were accepted in the years that followed.
Barbara Bodichon passed away in Robertsbridge, Sussex, on June 11, 1891.
Remembering Barbara Bodichon
In 2019, a special Blue Plaque was put up at Girton College. It honors both Barbara Bodichon and Emily Davies. The plaque was put up as part of the college's 150th anniversary. It is on the main tower at the entrance to Girton.
See also
In Spanish: Barbara Bodichon para niños
