Margaret Byers facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Margaret Byers
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| Born |
Margaret Morrow
1832 Rathfriland, County Down, Ireland
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| Died | 21 February 1912 (aged 79–80) Belfast
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| Resting place | Belfast City Cemetery |
| Nationality | Irish |
| Alma mater | Trinity College Dublin |
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| Spouse(s) |
John Byers
(m. 1850) |
Margaret Byers (born Morrow; April 1832 – February 21, 1912) was an important Irish woman. She was a teacher, an activist, and a social reformer. Margaret Byers started Victoria College, Belfast, a famous school for girls. She worked hard to help young people and improve education for girls in Ireland. She also wrote about schools and the temperance movement.
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Early Life and Learning
Margaret Morrow was born in April 1832. Her home was in Windsor Hill, Rathfriland, County Down, Ireland. Her father, Andrew Morrow, was a supporter of the temperance movement. This movement encouraged people to avoid alcohol. Margaret was the only daughter in her family. She received her education at home and at Mrs. Treffry's school in Nottingham, England.
Her Amazing Career
Before she got married, Margaret worked as a student teacher. She taught for a year under Mrs. Treffry.
Life as a Missionary
In 1850, Margaret married Rev. John Byers. He was a Presbyterian missionary. They first stopped in the United States. There, Margaret learned about a new idea. She believed that boys and girls should get the same kind of education. After their stop, they traveled to China. They worked there as missionaries. Sadly, her husband died in 1853. Margaret then returned to New York. She connected with religious women there. The next year, she moved back to Ireland. She made her home in Belfast. Her son, Sir John Byers, later became a well-known leader in Belfast.
Helping Irish Women
Margaret Byers cared deeply about the lives of Irish women. She started working to make things better for them. She founded and led Victoria College, Belfast. This school was a pioneer in education. It began as a high school for girls. At that time, college education for women was not common.
In 1878, Margaret worked to include girls in a special law. This law helped fund education in Ireland. In 1881, the Royal University of Ireland allowed women to take exams. They could also earn degrees. Margaret Byers was the first woman from Ulster to get an honorary degree from a university. She also became a member of the first leadership group for Queen's University Belfast.
Social Work and Temperance
In 1874, Margaret Byers joined with Isabella Tod and other women. They started the Belfast Women's Temperance Association. This group worked to help people avoid alcohol. From this group, other important projects grew. These included the Belfast Prison Gate Mission for Women. This mission helped women leaving prison. They also started the Victoria Homes. These homes helped neglected and poor girls. They gave them training and a safe place to live.
Margaret Byers was the first president of the Irish Women's Temperance Union. She wrote many papers about girls' education in Ireland. She also wrote about industrial schools and the temperance movement. She received an important degree (LL. D.) from Trinity College Dublin.
Later Life and Death
Margaret Byers passed away on February 21, 1912. She is buried in Belfast City Cemetery.
