Dorothy Buxton
Encyclopedia
Dorothy Frances Buxton, née Jebb (3 March 1881 - 8 April 1963) was an English humanitarian, social activist and commentator on Germany.
, the youngest of three sisters born to Arthur Trevor Jebb (1839–1894) and Eglantyne Louisa Jebb
. Her mother's brother was the Cambridge classicist Richard Claverhouse Jebb
, and Dorothy was educated at Newnham College, Cambridge
.
In 1904 she married Charles Roden Buxton
, at that time a Liberal politician, and the pair were active in the Liberal Party. In 1915 she joined the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom
. In 1917 she and her husband left the Liberal Party for the Labour Party, and joined the Society of Friends. During World War I
she compiled 'Notes for the Foreign Press' for the Cambridge Magazine. Her writing inspired the Fight the Famine Council, founded in 1918 as an effort to alleviate starvation of civilians in Germany
and Austria-Hungary
during the Allied blockade of Germany
in World War I
, which led to the Save the Children Fund, which she and her sister Eglantyne Jebb
founded in 1919.
In 1935, increasingly concerned at Nazi treatment of Christians in Germany, she visited Germany to see for herself. She secured an interview with Hermann Göring
to raise the issue of treatment of civilians. On her return she informed George Bell
, Bishop of Chicester, that German Christians whom she had met "seemed oppressed and bound with the apparent necessity of extreme caution". Though her husband campaigned for appeasement
of Germany, Dorothy Buxton became convinced that war was necessary against the Nazis.
During World War II
she campaigned for refugees from Nazi Germany, as well as for the welfare of German prisoners of war.
She died 8 April 1963 in Peaslake
, near Guildford
. Papers relating to her and her husband are held at the London School of Economics
.
Life
Dorothy Frances Jebb was born 3 March 1881 in Ellesmere, ShropshireEllesmere, Shropshire
Ellesmere is a small market town near Oswestry in north Shropshire, England, notable for its proximity to a number of prominent lakes, the Meres.-History:...
, the youngest of three sisters born to Arthur Trevor Jebb (1839–1894) and Eglantyne Louisa Jebb
Eglantyne Louisa Jebb
Eglantyne Louisa Jebb was a social reformer. Born in Killiney, Ireland, she married her cousin Arthur Trevor Jebb , a barrister and landowner from Ellesmere, Shropshire. Her brother was the classicist Sir Richard Claverhouse Jebb...
. Her mother's brother was the Cambridge classicist Richard Claverhouse Jebb
Richard Claverhouse Jebb
Sir Richard Claverhouse Jebb, OM, FBA was a British classical scholar and politician.He was born in Dundee, Scotland. His father was a well-known barrister, and his grandfather a judge...
, and Dorothy was educated at Newnham College, Cambridge
Newnham College, Cambridge
Newnham College is a women-only constituent college of the University of Cambridge, England.The college was founded in 1871 by Henry Sidgwick, and was the second Cambridge college to admit women after Girton College...
.
In 1904 she married Charles Roden Buxton
Charles Roden Buxton
Charles Roden Buxton was an English philanthropist and politician.He was born in London, the third son of Sir Thomas Buxton, 3rd Baronet...
, at that time a Liberal politician, and the pair were active in the Liberal Party. In 1915 she joined the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom
Women's International League for Peace and Freedom
The Women's International League for Peace and Freedom was established in the United States in January 1915 as the Woman's Peace Party...
. In 1917 she and her husband left the Liberal Party for the Labour Party, and joined the Society of Friends. During World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
she compiled 'Notes for the Foreign Press' for the Cambridge Magazine. Her writing inspired the Fight the Famine Council, founded in 1918 as an effort to alleviate starvation of civilians in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
and Austria-Hungary
Austria-Hungary
Austria-Hungary , more formally known as the Kingdoms and Lands Represented in the Imperial Council and the Lands of the Holy Hungarian Crown of Saint Stephen, was a constitutional monarchic union between the crowns of the Austrian Empire and the Kingdom of Hungary in...
during the Allied blockade of Germany
Blockade of Germany
The Blockade of Germany, or the Blockade of Europe, occurred from 1914-1919 and was a prolonged naval operation conducted by the Allied Powers during and after World War I in an effort to restrict the maritime supply of raw materials and foodstuffs to the Central Powers, which included Germany,...
in World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, which led to the Save the Children Fund, which she and her sister Eglantyne Jebb
Eglantyne Jebb
Eglantyne Jebb was a British social reformer.- Early life :She was born in 1876 in Ellesmere, Shropshire, and grew up on her family's estate. The Jebbs were a well-off family and had a strong social conscience and commitment to public service...
founded in 1919.
In 1935, increasingly concerned at Nazi treatment of Christians in Germany, she visited Germany to see for herself. She secured an interview with Hermann Göring
Hermann Göring
Hermann Wilhelm Göring, was a German politician, military leader, and a leading member of the Nazi Party. He was a veteran of World War I as an ace fighter pilot, and a recipient of the coveted Pour le Mérite, also known as "The Blue Max"...
to raise the issue of treatment of civilians. On her return she informed George Bell
George Bell (bishop)
George Kennedy Allen Bell was an Anglican theologian, Dean of Canterbury, Bishop of Chichester, member of the House of Lords and a pioneer of the Ecumenical Movement.-Early career:...
, Bishop of Chicester, that German Christians whom she had met "seemed oppressed and bound with the apparent necessity of extreme caution". Though her husband campaigned for appeasement
Appeasement
The term appeasement is commonly understood to refer to a diplomatic policy aimed at avoiding war by making concessions to another power. Historian Paul Kennedy defines it as "the policy of settling international quarrels by admitting and satisfying grievances through rational negotiation and...
of Germany, Dorothy Buxton became convinced that war was necessary against the Nazis.
During 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 campaigned for refugees from Nazi Germany, as well as for the welfare of German prisoners of war.
She died 8 April 1963 in Peaslake
Peaslake
Peaslake is in the centre of the Surrey Hills area, close to the market town of Guildford, England. Surrounded by acres of forest and downland, visitors come here to walk and cycle and to enjoy the views of the local countryside. Nearby to the south is Pitch Hill which at is the fifth highest...
, near Guildford
Guildford
Guildford is the county town of Surrey. England, as well as the seat for the borough of Guildford and the administrative headquarters of the South East England region...
. Papers relating to her and her husband are held at the London School of Economics
London School of Economics
The London School of Economics and Political Science is a public research university specialised in the social sciences located in London, United Kingdom, and a constituent college of the federal University of London...
.
Works
- (with Charles Roden Buxton) The world after the war, London: G. Allen & Unwin Ltd. [1920]. Translated into German by Rudolf Berger as Die Welt nach dem Weltkriege, 1921.
- The war for coal and iron', London : The Labour Party, [1921].
- Upper Silesia and the European crisis, London : Fight the Famine Council, [1921].
- The challenge of bolshevism; a new social ideal, London: G. Allen & Unwin, 1928.
- (ed.) Save the child: a posthumous essay by Eglantyne JebbEglantyne JebbEglantyne Jebb was a British social reformer.- Early life :She was born in 1876 in Ellesmere, Shropshire, and grew up on her family's estate. The Jebbs were a well-off family and had a strong social conscience and commitment to public service...
. London : The Weardale Press, 1929. - (with Edward Fuller) The white flame: the story of the Save the children fund, London, New York: Longmans, Green and Co.; London: The Weardale Press, Ltd., 1931.
- (as 'An English Protestant') The Church Struggle in Germany: A Survey of Four Years, March 1933-July 1937, London, 1937.
- The Religious Crisis in Germany, Kulturkampf Association: London, [1938.]
- (ed. and tr.) I Was In Prison: letters from German pastors, Student Christian Movement Press: London, 1938
- The economics of the refugee problem, [London]: Focus Publishing Co., [1938].
- (with Norman AngellNorman AngellSir Ralph Norman Angell was an English lecturer, journalist, author, and Member of Parliament for the Labour Party.Angell was one of the principal founders of the Union of Democratic Control...
) You and the refugee: the moral and economics of the problem, Harmondsworth : Penguin Books Ltd., 1939. Translated into Spanish by F. Fernández de la Madroñera as El crimen de nuestro tiempo: la raza blanca en peligro, 1943. - (ed. with a foreword) Christendom on trial : documents of the German church struggle, 1938-39, London: Friends of Europe, [1939]
- (ed. and completed) Prophets of heaven & hell: Virgil, Dante, Milton, Goethe by Charles Roden BuxtonCharles Roden BuxtonCharles Roden Buxton was an English philanthropist and politician.He was born in London, the third son of Sir Thomas Buxton, 3rd Baronet...
. Cambridge: The University Press, 1945