Elizabeth Maria Bowen Thompson facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Elizabeth Maria Bowen Thompson
Born	Elizabeth Maria Lloyd 1812/13 England, U.K.
Died	14 November 1869 Blackheath, London, U.K.
Occupation	educator missionary letter writer
Language	English
Nationality	British
Notable works	The Daughters of Syria
Spouse	James Bowen Thompson ​ ​ (m. 1850; died 1855)​
Parents	Hannibal Evans Lloyd
Relatives	Henry Lloyd
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Elizabeth Maria Bowen Thompson (born Lloyd, also known as Mrs. Bowen Thompson; 1812/13 – 14 November 1869) was a British teacher and missionary. She started the British Syrian Schools. From a young age, she was very religious. After her own husband passed away, she felt a special connection to widows from different wars and conflicts. These included the Crimean War, the Indian Rebellion of 1857, and the 1860 Mount Lebanon civil war. She worked hard to support these women. Her life's story was told through her simple, vivid letters. A book called The Daughters of Syria was published in 1872, based on her writings.

Elizabeth's Early Life and Learning

Elizabeth Maria Lloyd was born in England around 1812 or 1813. Her father was Hannibal Evans Lloyd, a Welsh expert in languages and a translator. Her mother, Lucy Anna Margaretta von Schwartzkopff, was from Hamburg, Germany.

Elizabeth learned about English classic books from her father. Her mother taught her about good morals and values. Her family had an interesting history. Her great-grandmother was a Highlander from Scotland and a Jacobite. It was said she once swapped clothes with Prince Charlie to help him escape. Elizabeth's Welsh grandfather, General Lloyd, was known as a clever military planner. Her father, Hannibal, had traveled in Germany during a time of French control. He often shared stories of battles, sieges, and daring escapes.

Starting Her Mission Work

In 1850, Elizabeth married Dr. James Bowen Thompson in London. He was a Scottish doctor and missionary who shared her strong religious beliefs. From 1843 to 1848, he had led the British Syrian Hospital in Damascus. He had big plans for Syria, hoping to connect it to India with railways.

To follow this dream, Elizabeth and her husband first went to Constantinople. Then, they settled on some land Dr. Thompson owned near Antioch. Elizabeth quickly learned the local language. She felt sad for the women there, seeing their difficult lives. So, she started several small schools. During their year and a half in the area, they got the schools off to a good start. When they left, they handed over the work to a local Christian teacher and some Armenians. They hoped the schools would continue to grow.

Helping During Wars and Conflicts

When the Crimean War began in 1853, Dr. Bowen Thompson offered his medical skills to the government. He knew a lot about diseases in the East and wanted to help the English army. Sadly, in Balaklava, Dr. Bowen Thompson caught typhoid fever. He was also a victim of strict rules. As a "civilian," he could not be taken into the military hospital. He was left on a ship and died on August 5, 1855. Elizabeth wrote to Queen Victoria about this terrible experience. The Queen reportedly made sure such a mistake would not happen again.

After burying her husband, Elizabeth Bowen Thompson lived with her sister in England. She became very involved in social work. When the Indian Rebellion of 1857 followed the Crimean War, Elizabeth joined a special committee. She worked hard to provide needed items for those who suffered. She also started an association for soldiers' wives, with the Queen's support.

The terrible killing of the Maronites by the Syrian Druses during the 1860 Mount Lebanon civil war deeply moved Elizabeth. Almost all males aged 7 to 70 had been killed. She gave generously, providing supplies and clothes. But she truly wanted to be in Syria with the widows. She left in October 1860, planning to stay in Beirut for six months. There, she met some of these women to figure out the best way to help them. "We look," they told her, "to England to do us justice for the blood of our husbands and sons."

Founding the British Syrian Schools

In 1860, Elizabeth quickly came up with a plan for an "industrial refuge." This was an organization to improve the lives of Syrian women. About 20,000 women were crowding the city, desperate for work, even road-mending, after the massacre. They were often uneducated and filled with thoughts of revenge. Elizabeth opened a class in her hotel. Even the hotel owner became her first student! She found an Arabic teacher, and the plan began to work.

She already saw her future school in Beirut. It would have a classroom for young children. There would be a department for women and girls to learn skills. Another part would help unemployed people find jobs. Finally, there would be a storage room for supplies she expected from England. The school was simple but effective. Elizabeth was very lucky to get help from Mr. and Mrs. Mott at this stage. They dedicated themselves to the same goals. All of this helped her set up the British Syrian Schools Association. This organization later became part of the Middle East Christian Outreach (in 1959) and then SIM (Serving In Mission) in 2016.

By the end of 1861, a house was found. About 30 widows from Hasbeya quickly moved in. The number of students grew so fast that within a month, three schools were busy operating. Donations started coming in, and interest in her work grew. Soon, a fourth school opened in a stable. Still, more people wanted to join than she could accept. Another school quickly filled with 90 children. A few days later, a fifth school started for young women. She also realized she needed to open a girls' school for wealthier families. These families were willing to pay a fee for their daughters to be taught by an English woman instead of French nuns.

Support and Growth

Lord Shaftesbury was very interested in Elizabeth's work. He used his name and influence to help her get the money she needed. Everyone on the ground was very excited about the schools. Officers from the fleet anchored off Beirut sent all their laundry to be done by her women. She had set up a laundry service. One captain gave her a mangle (a machine for pressing clothes). The ship's carpenters helped set up all the fittings.

Once, when money was low and she couldn't pay her widows, Elizabeth called them together. She asked them all to pray with her for help. That very day, the harem (women's quarters) of a Turkish Pasha visited the school. The women gave a purse of piastres (coins) when they left. When Elizabeth counted the coins, she found they added up to three Turkish liras. This was exactly the amount she needed to pay her widows!

In early summer 1862, the schools received a visit from the Prince of Wales, who later became King Edward VII. This was a big event! The children greeted the Prince by singing the British National Anthem. He was very pleased with everything he saw. After asking some smart questions that showed he understood the work, the Prince gave 25 Napoléons (gold coins) to the school. He also placed a large order for embroidery work.

A school soon opened in Hasbaya, where one of the worst massacres had happened. Elizabeth traveled throughout the area, planning the best places for her education centers. From Hasbeya, she climbed Mount Hermon. From the top, she could look down on the land. When Canon Henry Baker Tristram visited the area later, the women asked him if he had any clothes to wash or mend. He noted that Mrs. Thompson's education helped with practical daily life. When he told them that "Sitt" (Mrs.) Thompson was a dear friend, they clapped their hands with joy.

By 1864, there were already eighteen schools running well. More places kept asking for schools. The seventh yearly student exam took place in 1867 in Beirut. For three days, everyone in Beirut society came to see the children. At one point, about a thousand people were there.

In 1867, the governor of Mount Lebanon, Daoud Pasha, was very impressed by Elizabeth. He trusted her and supported her work. The Pasha went with her to the village of Afn Zahalteh. She wanted permission to open a school there. He offered his arm and went with her to find a suitable house. But they were put off by how dirty it was. Elizabeth later got an offer for part of a dirty house. So, she tied a handkerchief over her head and started cleaning. Others soon followed her example. After a while, carpenters and masons helped build walls and fix holes. They also put up shelves and benches. When the Pasha returned, he saw a complete change. He gave 1000 francs for a new schoolhouse to replace the temporary room. Later, the Pasha helped start a school in Damascus. As usual, Elizabeth just started the work without worrying too much about how. After finding the right teacher, she arranged to pay her a monthly salary. The Maronite priests were against starting a school at Zachleh, but their protests didn't stop it. The schoolhouse, built in a Moorish style, was constructed on the steep side of the village hill.

Elizabeth could not have started so many different projects without her sister and brother-in-law, Mr. Mentor Mott, joining her from England. Their home in England had burned down. All family records were destroyed by the fire. Instead of rebuilding, they decided to use their money and lives to help the Syrian people. A younger sister had already been helping Elizabeth for some time. So, there were four family members working in Syria.

After nine years, Elizabeth had set up 23 schools. These schools taught about 1,700 students with 56 teachers. They became places for learning about the Gospel and general knowledge. Many communities asked for a school to be opened. Infant schools, orphanages, Sunday schools, schools for children with disabilities, boarding schools for Muslim children, and schools for the blind were all working well throughout Lebanon. Her sister and Elizabeth supported all of them.

Elizabeth's Later Life

During the summer of 1869, Elizabeth Bowen Thompson became very weak. In the early autumn, she returned to her sister's home in Blackheath. Towards the end, she asked them to send a telegram to Beirut. She wanted the children there to pray for her. Elizabeth died on November 14, 1869. After her death, her writings were put together and published in 1872 as The Daughters of Syria.

Selected Works

The Daughters of Syria (1872)

• The Daughters of Syria, 1872 (Text)