Frances Murray (suffragist) facts for kids

Frances Porter Murray (born Stoddard, 23 February 1843 – 3 April 1919) was an important woman who fought for women's rights. She was a suffragist, which means she worked to get women the right to vote. Frances was raised in Scotland and also worked to improve education for women. She was a lecturer on Scottish music and a writer too.

Early Life and Family

Frances Murray was born in New York, USA in 1843. Her parents, Arthur and Frances Stoddard, were active abolitionists. This means they worked to end slavery. In 1844, her family moved to Glasgow, Scotland. Later, in 1853, they moved to Elderslie, where her father started a carpet company called Stoddard International.

Frances mostly learned at home. She also went to a special school in London in 1861. She first became interested in women's rights when she visited relatives in the USA in 1867-1868. There, she and her sister met Harriet Beecher Stowe, a famous writer and abolitionist.

In 1872, Frances married David Murray, a well-known lawyer from Glasgow. Frances valued her independence very much. She wrote in a letter in 1867 that women were often expected not to have strong opinions. She felt that having "brains" was a help, not a problem, even if it wasn't always popular with men.

Frances and David moved to Cardross soon after they married. They had three daughters: Sylvia Winthrop Murray (born 1875), Eunice Guthrie Murray (born 1878), and Dorothy. They also had one son, Anthony Stoddard Murray (born 1880).

What Did Frances Murray Do?

Frances Murray wanted to work from a young age. However, in her time, women had very few job choices. She once said that mothers aimed to make their daughters pretty and ready to marry well. Few other careers were open to women.

Even with these challenges, Frances found ways to work. She gave public talks about Scottish music and organized concerts in her hometown of Cardross. She also wrote books, including travel stories and poetry.

Fighting for Women's Education

Frances and David Murray both cared deeply about women's rights. They supported the Glasgow Association for the Higher Education of Women. This group worked to give women better chances to learn. Frances went to many lectures at the University of Glasgow. She also gave some lectures there herself, sharing her knowledge of Scottish songs and traditions.

She wrote about how much women's rights had improved during her life, especially in education. She noted that the Victorian Era helped break down old rules, and by then, there were schools and colleges for girls and women.

Her Role in Politics

Frances Murray strongly believed in equality for women. Her daughter wrote that Frances hoped to see "sex equality" before she died. Frances and her two daughters, Sylvia and Eunice, were all members of the Women's Freedom League. This group worked for women's right to vote.

In 1910, Frances took part in a large demonstration in Edinburgh to support women's suffrage. She even led one of the groups marching. She also encouraged her daughters to take on opportunities that she didn't have when she was young. She told her daughter Eunice to "Go ahead" and use her "fighting blood."

Later Life and Legacy

Frances Murray died in Cardross on 3 April 1919. She lived long enough to cast her vote in the 1918 UK election. This was the first time women in the United Kingdom were allowed to vote in a general election, a right she had fought for her entire life.

See also

In Spanish: Frances Murray para niños