Gabrielle Borthwick facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Honourable
Gabrielle Borthwick
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| Born |
Gabrielle Margaret Ariana Borthwick
30 June 1866 London
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| Died | 10 October 1952 (aged 86) Broadbridge Heath, Sussex
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| Nationality | British |
| Known for | Motorist and mechanic |
Gabrielle Borthwick (born June 30, 1866 – died October 10, 1952) was an amazing driver and mechanic. She was one of the first wealthy women to open her own car garage. She also started a school to teach both men and women how to drive and fix cars.
Gabrielle was a leader in the Women’s Automobile and Sports Association. This group worked closely with the Royal Automobile Club, which is a famous club for drivers.
Contents
Early Life
Gabrielle Margaret Ariana Borthwick was born in London on June 30, 1866. She was the oldest daughter of Alice Day and the 19th Lord Borthwick. When she was young, she was introduced to the royal family. She never got married.
A Career in Cars
Gabrielle Borthwick was a true pioneer in the world of cars. She helped many women get involved in driving and mechanics.
Teaching Women to Drive
By 1914, Gabrielle was helping to create groups for women. One of these was the Society of Women Motor Drivers. This idea came from the movement that fought for women's right to vote.
In 1915, she advertised her business, The Ladies’ Automobile Workshops. Her ad promised that "Ladies trained by ladies. All branches of motoring taught." Her garage was located in Mayfair, a part of London.
Helping During World War I
During the First World War, Gabrielle Borthwick did important work. She trained many people to drive and maintain cars. She taught both men and women. Many women became ambulance drivers in countries like France and Serbia.
People later said she did "splendid work during the war." She taught hundreds of girls how cars work and how to drive them. Her garage, Borthwick's Ladies' Automobile Workshops, was in Piccadilly in London. It was an official agent for the RAC even into the 1920s. In the early 1920s, her garage even had a restaurant and a club for chauffeurs.
Supporting Women in Engineering
In 1920, Gabrielle was chosen to be on the first Council of the Women's Engineering Society. She also wrote articles for their magazine, The Woman Engineer. This shows how much she supported women in technical jobs.
Gabrielle Borthwick was also a director for a company called The Stainless Steel and Non-Corrosive Metals Company Limited. This company was started in Birmingham in 1922. It was special because it was managed by and employed women. The company made things like lamp reflectors and railway parts.
Later Life
Gabrielle Borthwick passed away on October 10, 1952. She died in Broadbridge Heath, Sussex.
Images for kids
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Gabrielle Borthwick
