Beatrice Wright
Encyclopedia
Beatrice Frederika Wright, Lady Wright, née Clough, later Rathbone (17 June 1910 – 17 March 2003) was an American
-born British
politician.
She came to England to study at Oxford where she met and later married John Rathbone
, with whom she had two children, including Tim
, later MP for Lewes. Her husband was elected in 1935 as Conservative
Member of Parliament
(MP) for Bodmin
, but was killed in December 1940 in the Battle of Britain
, aged 30. In March 1941 she was elected unopposed as his successor, and sat in the Commons for the rest of World War II
. She stepped down at the 1945 general election
, after becoming the first sitting MP to give birth to a child.
In 1942, she remarried to Paul Wright
, who had a distinguished career as a diplomat
and was knighted in 1975. They had one child, and both converted to the Roman Catholic Church
.
She served as Vice President of the Royal National Institute for the Deaf
from 1978 to 2003, and was a founder in 1982 of Hearing Dogs for Deaf People
, serving as the charity's President until 1988. In 1996, she was awarded an MBE
.
The Beatrice Wright Training Centre for hearing dog
s, in Selby
, is named after her.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
-born British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
politician.
She came to England to study at Oxford where she met and later married John Rathbone
John Rathbone (Bodmin)
John Rankin Rathbone was a British Conservative Party politician. A fighter pilot with the Royal Air Force, he was killed shortly after the Battle of Britain....
, with whom she had two children, including Tim
Tim Rathbone
John Rankin "Tim" Rathbone was the Conservative Member of Parliament for the seat of Lewes between 1974 and 1997....
, later MP for Lewes. Her husband was elected in 1935 as Conservative
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
(MP) for Bodmin
Bodmin (UK Parliament constituency)
Bodmin was the name of a parliamentary constituency in Cornwall from 1295 until 1983. Initially, it was a parliamentary borough, which returned two Members of Parliament to the House of Commons of England and later the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom until the 1868 general...
, but was killed in December 1940 in the Battle of Britain
Battle of Britain
The Battle of Britain is the name given to the World War II air campaign waged by the German Air Force against the United Kingdom during the summer and autumn of 1940...
, aged 30. In March 1941 she was elected unopposed as his successor, and sat in the Commons for the rest of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. She stepped down at the 1945 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1945
The United Kingdom general election of 1945 was a general election held on 5 July 1945, with polls in some constituencies delayed until 12 July and in Nelson and Colne until 19 July, due to local wakes weeks. The results were counted and declared on 26 July, due in part to the time it took to...
, after becoming the first sitting MP to give birth to a child.
In 1942, she remarried to Paul Wright
Paul Wright (diplomat)
Sir Paul Hervé Giraud Wright KCM, OBE was a British diplomat who served as ambassador to the Democratic Republic of Congo and to Lebanon....
, who had a distinguished career as a diplomat
Diplomat
A diplomat is a person appointed by a state to conduct diplomacy with another state or international organization. The main functions of diplomats revolve around the representation and protection of the interests and nationals of the sending state, as well as the promotion of information and...
and was knighted in 1975. They had one child, and both converted to the Roman Catholic Church
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
.
She served as Vice President of the Royal National Institute for the Deaf
Royal National Institute for Deaf People
Action on Hearing Loss, formerly known as The Royal National Institute for Deaf People is a charitable organization working on behalf of the UK's 9 million deaf and hard of hearing people. The head office of RNID is in Islington, Central London . Its President is Lord Ashley of Stoke. The Chief...
from 1978 to 2003, and was a founder in 1982 of Hearing Dogs for Deaf People
Hearing Dogs for Deaf People
Hearing Dogs for Deaf People is a British charitable organisation founded in 1982.-External links and references:*...
, serving as the charity's President until 1988. In 1996, she was awarded an MBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
.
The Beatrice Wright Training Centre for hearing dog
Hearing dog
A hearing dog is a specific type of assistance dog specifically selected and trained to assist people who are deaf or hearing impaired by alerting their handler to important sounds, such as doorbells, smoke alarms, ringing telephones, or alarm clocks...
s, in Selby
Selby
Selby is a town and civil parish in North Yorkshire, England. Situated south of the city of York, along the course of the River Ouse, Selby is the largest and, with a population of 13,012, most populous settlement of the wider Selby local government district.Historically a part of the West Riding...
, is named after her.
External links
- Beatrice Wright (Beatrice Rathbone) at the Centre for Advancement of Women in Politics
- Obituary, Sir Paul Wright, Daily Telegraph 2005-06-13
- Obituary, Sir Paul Wright, The Times 2005-06-30
- History of Hearing Dogs for Deaf People