Jane Wigham facts for kids
Jane Wigham (born Smeal; 1801–1888) was an important Scottish woman. She worked hard to end slavery. Jane was also the main organizer for the Glasgow Ladies' Emancipation Society.
Contents
Early Life and Quaker Beliefs
Jane Smeal was born in Glasgow in 1801. She was the sister of William Smeal. Jane went to Ackworth School in Yorkshire. This was a school for Quakers.
Quakers are a Christian group known for their peaceful beliefs. They often speak out against injustice. Jane's family lived in Edinburgh and later moved to Aberdeen. Being a Quaker family in Scotland was unusual. In 1851, there were fewer than 400 active Quakers in Scotland.
Fighting Against Slavery
Jane Smeal became a leader in the Glasgow Ladies Emancipation Society. This group worked to end slavery. Her brother, William, also started an anti-slavery group in 1822. Jane was active in the fight against slavery for a long time.
In 1838, Jane wrote an important leaflet with Elizabeth Pease Nichol. It was called Address to the Women of Great Britain. This paper asked British women to speak out in public. It also encouraged them to form groups to fight slavery.
Jane also wrote a message for Queen Victoria. Many people believe this message helped end slavery in the Caribbean.
Marriage and Family Life
In 1840, Jane Smeal married John Wigham. He was a tea merchant and also worked to end slavery. Jane became John's second wife. She became Jane Wigham.
Jane became very close friends with her stepdaughter, Eliza Wigham. They worked together on many projects. Jane and John married in the same year as the World Anti-Slavery Convention in London. Eliza was one of the delegates at this big meeting.
Working for Women's Rights
After the Ladies' Emancipation Society stopped its work, Jane and Eliza started a new group. They helped create the Edinburgh National Society for Women's Suffrage. This group worked to give women the right to vote.
Priscilla Bright McLaren was the president of this group. Elizabeth Pease Nichol was the treasurer. Eliza and Agnes McLaren were joint secretaries. Jane and Eliza helped the Edinburgh group become a leading voice in Britain. They supported the ideas of William Lloyd Garrison. He was an American who fought for social change.
John Wigham, Jane's husband, died in 1864. Eliza stayed at the family home in Edinburgh. She took care of her stepmother. Jane died in November 1888 after being sick for a long time.
Jane Wigham's Legacy
In 2015, historians in Edinburgh started a campaign. They wanted to recognize four important women from the 1800s. These women were Elizabeth Pease Nichol, Priscilla Bright McLaren, Eliza Wigham, and Jane Smeal. They called them the city's "forgotten heroines."
See also
In Spanish: Jane Smeal para niños
