Marion Kirkland Reid facts for kids

Marion Kirkland Reid (1815-1902) was an important Scottish writer. She believed women should have equal rights. Her most famous book was A Plea for Woman. It was first published in 1843. Later, it was also published in the United States. There, it was called Woman, her Education and Influence. Marion Reid was also part of a group called the Ladies National Association. This group worked to change unfair laws.

About Marion Reid's Early Life

Marion Kirkland was born in Glasgow, Scotland. Her father, James Kirkland, was a merchant. Her mother's name was Janet Finlay.

On January 8, 1839, Marion married Hugo Reid. Hugo was a teacher from Edinburgh. He had modern ideas about education.

Fighting for Women's Rights

In June 1840, Marion went to a big meeting in London. It was called the World Anti-Slavery Convention. This meeting was about ending slavery. Marion was the only Scottish woman there.

At the convention, some American women were not allowed to speak. They could not take part in the discussions. Marion and other British people saw this happen. This event made a big impression on Marion.

Afterward, Marion met Lucretia Mott. Lucretia was a leader of the American women delegates. This meeting, along with an article she read, inspired Marion.

A Plea for Woman Book

In 1843, Marion wrote her book, A Plea for Woman. This book was very important. It was likely the first book in Britain or the USA to say that women needed civil and political rights. This means women should have the same rights as men. They should be able to vote and have equal chances.

The book was very helpful for the early women's suffrage movement in the USA. The suffrage movement worked to get women the right to vote.

A modern expert, Susanne Ferguson, said A Plea for Woman was a "landmark book." It was the first book written by a woman, for women. It specifically argued that voting was key to ending unfair treatment. This included unfairness in education and jobs. It also aimed for equal rights under the law.

Life in Different Places

Marion's husband, Hugo, worked as a teacher. They lived in Liverpool and Nottingham for a while. Later, they moved to Halifax, Nova Scotia, in Canada. Hugo became the head of Dalhousie College there. He worked in Canada from 1855 to 1860. Marion likely went with him.

After their time in Canada, the family came back to Britain. They settled in Marylebone, London. In 1866, Marion signed a petition for women's right to vote. Her London address was listed on it.

Hugo died in 1872. After that, Marion lived with her only daughter, Jessie. They lived in Shepherd's Bush, London.

Shared Ideas with Mary Wollstonecraft

Marion Reid and another famous writer, Mary Wollstonecraft, had similar ideas. They both pointed out something important. The democratic laws from the French Revolution had not yet given equal rights to women. Women made up half of the world's population, but they were still not treated equally.

See also

In Spanish: Marion Kirkland Reid para niños