Isabella Tod facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Isabella Tod
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| Born | 18 May 1836 Edinburgh, Scotland
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| Died | 8 December 1896 (aged 60) Belfast, Ireland
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| Nationality | Scottish-Irish |
| Occupation | Suffragist, Unionist |
Isabella Maria Susan Tod (born May 18, 1836 – died December 8, 1896) was an important person from Scotland. She fought for women's rights, especially for women to vote. She was also a unionist politician in the north of Ireland. In Belfast, she helped women get the right to vote in local elections in 1887. This was a big step forward for women's rights.
Contents
Isabella Tod's Early Life
Isabella Tod was born in Edinburgh, Scotland. Her mother, Maria Isabella Waddell, taught her at home. Her mother was from County Monaghan, Ireland. Isabella's father, James Banks Tod, was a merchant from Edinburgh.
In the 1850s, Isabella and her mother moved to Belfast. Isabella started writing for different newspapers. These included the Northern Whig and the Dublin University Magazine.
Fighting for Women's Vote
Isabella Tod was a strong supporter of women's suffrage. This means she believed women should have the right to vote. In 1872, she helped start the North of Ireland Women's Suffrage Society. This group later became the Irish Women's Suffrage Society.
The Society worked hard to convince lawmakers. Because of their efforts, a new law in 1887 gave the right to vote in Belfast to "persons" instead of just "men." This meant women in Belfast could vote in city elections. This happened eleven years before women in other parts of Ireland could vote in local elections. It was a major victory for women's rights.
Other Important Campaigns
Isabella Tod also worked on other important issues. In 1874, she teamed up with Margaret Byers. Margaret Byers was the person who started Victoria College. Together, they created the Belfast Women's Temperance Association. This group worked to reduce the problems caused by alcohol.
Isabella also joined Anna Haslam in a campaign. They worked to change certain laws that affected women's health. She was part of a special committee until 1889. This committee worked to protect women's rights and well-being.
Political Views and Later Life
The Liberal Party in Ireland split over a topic called Home Rule in Ireland. Home Rule was about whether Ireland should govern itself. Isabella Tod became an organizer for the Liberal Women's Unionist Association in Belfast. As a unionist, she believed that Ireland should remain part of the United Kingdom.
Isabella Tod passed away on December 8, 1896. She died at her home in Belfast. She is buried in Balmoral Cemetery in South Belfast.
Isabella Tod's Legacy
Isabella Tod's life and work are still remembered today. In October 2013, Margaret Mountford presented a TV show. It was a BBC Two Northern Ireland documentary. The show was called Groundbreakers: Ulster's Forgotten Radical. It told the story of Isabella Tod's important life.
See also
In Spanish: Isabella Tod para niños
