Margaret Dorothea Rowbotham facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Margaret Dorothea Rowbotham
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Margaret Rowbotham (left) with Tilly Shilling and Margaret Partridge in 1934
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| Born | 19 June 1883 Plumstead, Kent, England
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| Died | 23 February 1978 (aged 94) Willand, Devon, England
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| Nationality | British |
| Occupation | Engineer |
| Known for | Women's rights campaigner |
Margaret Dorothea Rowbotham (born June 19, 1883 – died February 23, 1978) was an amazing engineer. She also fought for women's rights to work and was one of the people who started the Women's Engineering Society.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Margaret Rowbotham was born in Plumstead, Kent, England. Her birthday was June 19, 1883. People sometimes called her Madge. She went to Blackheath High School. In 1905, she finished her studies at Girton College, Cambridge, where she learned a lot about mathematics. She also got a special paper from Cambridge Training College that allowed her to teach. Later, in 1935, she proudly said she was "one of the first six women motorcyclists."
Career as an Engineer
From 1906 to 1913, Margaret taught math at Roedean School for girls. This school was in Brighton. She then spent six months learning about motor engineering. She got a special driving certificate from the RAC. In 1914, she went to Canada to teach. She worked at Rupert's Land Ladies' College in Winnipeg for two years. During World War I, she joined Galloway Engineering Co. in Scotland. She became a supervisor in the machine shop at Tongland Works in 1917.
Starting the Women's Engineering Society
After World War I, a new law meant that many skilled women engineers lost their jobs. To help these women, the Women's Engineering Society was formed in 1919. Margaret Rowbotham was one of the founding members. Other important founders included Rachel Mary Parsons, Lady Katharine Parsons, Margaret, Lady Moir, Laura Annie Willson, and Janetta Mary Ornsby. Margaret was a council member of the society until 1944. She was made an honorary member in 1962 and stayed involved throughout her life.
Other Engineering Roles
In 1921, Margaret worked at Swainson Pump Company in Newcastle. She was an assistant manager there. From 1922 to 1923, she worked at Model Laundries in Kent. After that, she taught again at Roedean School in 1924. In 1927, she became a director at M. Partridge & Co. This was an electrical engineering company started by her partner, Margaret Partridge. Margaret Rowbotham worked there until 1953. She also held other engineering jobs.
Retirement and Later Life
In her later years, Margaret worked as a manager of a guesthouse in Eastbourne. After they retired, Margaret Rowbotham lived in Devon with Margaret Partridge. They encouraged the women in their local Women's Institute to get electricity for their village hall. In 1962, the two Margarets wrote a letter to their fellow women engineers. They shared "grandmotherly advice" about how much they enjoyed retirement. They mentioned designing a sports pavilion and helping turn a large house into a boys' school. They also served on the Parish Council. Margaret Rowbotham passed away on February 23, 1978. She is buried in Willand churchyard with Margaret Partridge. Some of her letters and papers are kept at the Imperial War Museum. These papers include information about women working in engineering and how an exhibit on oil and water pumps was created at the museum.
See also
In Spanish: Margaret Dorothea Rowbotham para niños
