Janet Morison Miller facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Janet Morison Miller
|
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Born | November 12, 1891 |
| Died | April 5, 1946 (aged 54) St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador
|
| Nationality | Canadian |
| Alma mater | Bishop Spencer College |
| Occupation | Lawyer |
| Known for | First woman entered onto Newfoundland Law Society rolls |
Janet Morison Miller (born November 12, 1891 – died April 5, 1946) was a very important woman in Canadian history. She was the first woman to officially join the Newfoundland Law Society. This meant she was the first woman allowed to become a lawyer in Newfoundland, which was then part of the United Kingdom.
Contents
Early Life and Her Dream
Janet Morison Miller was born in St. John's, Newfoundland, on November 12, 1891. She was the youngest daughter of Lewis Miller and Mary Morison. Janet went to Bishop Spencer College in St. John's. She was a very bright student there.
Janet wanted to study law, just like her uncle, Donald Morison. Her uncle was a very important lawyer. He was even the attorney general of Newfoundland. This meant he was the chief legal advisor to the government. In 1910, Janet asked the Law Society if she could take their exams. But the Law Society said no. They told her that only men were allowed to be members.
Breaking Barriers in Law
Janet's uncle, Donald Morison, did not give up. At the next big meeting of the Law Society, he asked them again to let women join. They still said no. But her uncle was a powerful person in the government. He convinced the government to change the law.
In 1911, the Law Society Act was changed. This new law finally gave women the legal right to become lawyers in Newfoundland. In 1913, Janet Miller officially became a law student. She studied in her uncle's law office.
Life During Wartime
In 1915, World War I began. Janet and her mother moved to Scotland. Janet's fiancé, Eric Ayre, was a soldier there. He was part of the Newfoundland Regiment. Janet and Eric got married in Edinburgh on June 19, 1915.
Sadly, just over a year later, Eric was killed in battle. He died at a place called Beaumont-Hamel. After Eric's death, Janet moved to England. She lived there with her mother and her mother-in-law. Janet helped out during the war. She worked with the British Red Cross. She also trained to drive ambulances.
Returning to Newfoundland
After the war ended, Janet came back to Newfoundland. She did not go back to studying law right away. Instead, she joined her sister, Agnes Miller Ayre. Together, they became important leaders in the suffragette movement. This movement worked to get women the right to vote. In the early 1920s, they helped Newfoundland women win this important right.
Janet also helped start other important groups. She helped create the Child Welfare League. This group helped children in need. She also helped found the Art Society of Newfoundland. This group supported artists. And she helped start the Newfoundland Outport Nursing Association (NONIA). This group provided nursing care to people in small, faraway communities.
On April 30, 1924, Janet married Andrew H. Murray. He was a businessman from St. John's. They had one daughter together. Janet died in St. John's on April 5, 1946. She had been sick for a short time.
Honored After Her Death
On October 14, 2016, Janet Morison Miller received a special honor. She was named an honorary lawyer. Four soldiers from the Newfoundland Regiment who died in World War I were also honored. Law certificates with their names were shown in court. This honored their contributions alongside today's lawyers.
