Lydia Becker
Encyclopedia
Lydia Ernestine Becker (24 February 1827 – 18 July 1890) was a leader in the early British
suffrage
movement, as well as an amateur scientist with interests in biology
and astronomy
. She is best remembered for founding and publishing the Women's Suffrage Journal between 1870 and 1890.
, Lancashire
, the eldest daughter of Hannibal Leigh
Becker, whose father, Ernst Becker, emigrated from Ohrdruf
, Thuringia
. Lydia Becker was educated at home, like many girls at the time. Intellectually curious, she studied botany
and astronomy
, winning a gold medal for an 1862 scholarly paper on horticulture
. Five years later, she founded the Ladies' Literary Society in Manchester
; she began a correspondence with Charles Darwin
soon afterwards and convinced him to send a paper to the society.
In the autumn of 1866 Becker attended the annual meeting of the National Association for the Advancement of Social Science, where she was excited by a paper from Barbara Bodichon
entitled "Reasons for the Enfranchisement of Women". She dedicated herself to organizing around the issue, and in January 1867 convened the first meeting of the Manchester Women's Suffrage Committee. It was the first organization of its kind in England.
Several months later, a widow shop owner named Lily Maxwell mistakenly appeared on the register of voters in Manchester; Becker visited Maxwell and escorted her to the polling station. Once they arrived, the Returning Officer
found Maxwell's name on the list and allowed her to vote. Becker immediately began encouraging other women heads of households in the region to petition for their names to appear on the rolls. Their claims were presented in court by junior defence barrister Richard Pankhurst
in Chorlton v. Lings, but the case was rapidly dismissed.
In 1870 Becker and her friend Jessie Boucherett
founded the Women's Suffrage Journal. Soon afterward, they began organising speaking tours of women a rarity in Britain at the time. At an 1874 speaking event in Manchester organized by Becker, fifteen-year-old Emmeline Pankhurst
experienced her first public gathering in the name of women's suffrage.
The Journal was the most popular publication relating to women's suffrage in nineteenth-century Britain. Roger Fulford
, in his study of the movement Votes for Women: The Story of a Struggle, writes: "The history of the decades from 1860 to 1890—so far as women's suffrage is concerned—is the history of Miss Becker." The Women's Suffrage Journal published speeches from around the country, both within and outside of Parliament. Becker published her correspondence with both her supporters and opponents, notably in 1870, when she chastised the MP for Caernarvonshire after he voted against a proposal offering women the vote.
Becker differed from many early feminists in her disputation of essentialized femininity
. Arguing that there was no natural difference between the intellect of men and women, Becker was a vocal advocate of a non-gendered education system in Britain. She also differed with many suffrage activists in arguing more strenuously for the voting rights of unmarried women. Those women connected to husbands and stable sources of income, Becker believed, were less desperately in need of the vote than widows and single women. This attitude made her the target of frequent ridicule in newspaper commentary and editorial cartoons.
In 1890 Becker visited the spa town
of Aix-les-Bains
, where she fell ill and died, aged 63. Rather than continue publishing in her absence, the staff of the Women's Suffrage Journal decided to cease production. A final publication sent to subscribers included this note:
, ref 7LEB
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland was the formal name of the United Kingdom during the period when what is now the Republic of Ireland formed a part of it....
suffrage
Suffrage
Suffrage, political franchise, or simply the franchise, distinct from mere voting rights, is the civil right to vote gained through the democratic process...
movement, as well as an amateur scientist with interests in biology
Biology
Biology is a natural science concerned with the study of life and living organisms, including their structure, function, growth, origin, evolution, distribution, and taxonomy. Biology is a vast subject containing many subdivisions, topics, and disciplines...
and astronomy
Astronomy
Astronomy is a natural science that deals with the study of celestial objects and phenomena that originate outside the atmosphere of Earth...
. She is best remembered for founding and publishing the Women's Suffrage Journal between 1870 and 1890.
Biography
Born in ChaddertonChadderton
Chadderton is a town within the Metropolitan Borough of Oldham, in Greater Manchester, England, historically a part of Lancashire...
, Lancashire
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
, the eldest daughter of Hannibal Leigh
High Legh
High Legh is a village and civil parish in the unitary authority of Cheshire East and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. It lies six miles north west of Knutsford, seven miles east of Warrington and seventeen miles south west of Manchester City Centre....
Becker, whose father, Ernst Becker, emigrated from Ohrdruf
Ohrdruf
Ohrdruf is a small town in the German federal state of Thuringia. It lies some 30 km southwest of Erfurt.-Medieval settling:Ohrdruf was founded in 724–726 by Saint Boniface, as the site of the first monastery in Thuringia, dedicated to Saint Michael. It was the first of several religious...
, Thuringia
Thuringia
The Free State of Thuringia is a state of Germany, located in the central part of the country.It has an area of and 2.29 million inhabitants, making it the sixth smallest by area and the fifth smallest by population of Germany's sixteen states....
. Lydia Becker was educated at home, like many girls at the time. Intellectually curious, she studied botany
Botany
Botany, plant science, or plant biology is a branch of biology that involves the scientific study of plant life. Traditionally, botany also included the study of fungi, algae and viruses...
and astronomy
Astronomy
Astronomy is a natural science that deals with the study of celestial objects and phenomena that originate outside the atmosphere of Earth...
, winning a gold medal for an 1862 scholarly paper on horticulture
Horticulture
Horticulture is the industry and science of plant cultivation including the process of preparing soil for the planting of seeds, tubers, or cuttings. Horticulturists work and conduct research in the disciplines of plant propagation and cultivation, crop production, plant breeding and genetic...
. Five years later, she founded the Ladies' Literary Society in Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
; she began a correspondence with Charles Darwin
Charles Darwin
Charles Robert Darwin FRS was an English naturalist. He established that all species of life have descended over time from common ancestry, and proposed the scientific theory that this branching pattern of evolution resulted from a process that he called natural selection.He published his theory...
soon afterwards and convinced him to send a paper to the society.
In the autumn of 1866 Becker attended the annual meeting of the National Association for the Advancement of Social Science, where she was excited by a paper from Barbara Bodichon
Barbara Bodichon
Barbara Leigh Smith Bodichon was an English educationalist, artist, and a leading early nineteenth century feminist and activist for women's rights.-Early life:...
entitled "Reasons for the Enfranchisement of Women". She dedicated herself to organizing around the issue, and in January 1867 convened the first meeting of the Manchester Women's Suffrage Committee. It was the first organization of its kind in England.
Several months later, a widow shop owner named Lily Maxwell mistakenly appeared on the register of voters in Manchester; Becker visited Maxwell and escorted her to the polling station. Once they arrived, the Returning Officer
Returning Officer
In various parliamentary systems, a returning officer is responsible for overseeing elections in one or more constituencies.-Australia:In Australia a returning officer is an employee of the Australian Electoral Commission or a State Electoral Commission who heads the local divisional office...
found Maxwell's name on the list and allowed her to vote. Becker immediately began encouraging other women heads of households in the region to petition for their names to appear on the rolls. Their claims were presented in court by junior defence barrister Richard Pankhurst
Richard Pankhurst
Richard Marsden Pankhurst was an English barrister and supporter of women's rights.Pankhurst was the son of Henry Francis Pankhurst and Margaret Marsden . He was born in Stoke but spent most of his life in Manchester and London. He was educated at Manchester Grammar School and Owens College of...
in Chorlton v. Lings, but the case was rapidly dismissed.
In 1870 Becker and her friend Jessie Boucherett
Jessie Boucherett
Jessie Boucherett was an English campaigner for women's rights....
founded the Women's Suffrage Journal. Soon afterward, they began organising speaking tours of women a rarity in Britain at the time. At an 1874 speaking event in Manchester organized by Becker, fifteen-year-old Emmeline Pankhurst
Emmeline Pankhurst
Emmeline Pankhurst was a British political activist and leader of the British suffragette movement which helped women win the right to vote...
experienced her first public gathering in the name of women's suffrage.
The Journal was the most popular publication relating to women's suffrage in nineteenth-century Britain. Roger Fulford
Roger Fulford
Sir Roger Thomas Baldwin Fulford CVO was an English journalist, historian, writer and politician.In the 1930s, he completed the editing of the standard edition of the diaries of Charles Greville. From the 1930s to the 1960s, he wrote several important biographies and other works...
, in his study of the movement Votes for Women: The Story of a Struggle, writes: "The history of the decades from 1860 to 1890—so far as women's suffrage is concerned—is the history of Miss Becker." The Women's Suffrage Journal published speeches from around the country, both within and outside of Parliament. Becker published her correspondence with both her supporters and opponents, notably in 1870, when she chastised the MP for Caernarvonshire after he voted against a proposal offering women the vote.
Becker differed from many early feminists in her disputation of essentialized femininity
Femininity
Femininity is a set of attributes, behaviors, and roles generally associated with girls and women. Though socially constructed, femininity is made up of both socially defined and biologically created factors...
. Arguing that there was no natural difference between the intellect of men and women, Becker was a vocal advocate of a non-gendered education system in Britain. She also differed with many suffrage activists in arguing more strenuously for the voting rights of unmarried women. Those women connected to husbands and stable sources of income, Becker believed, were less desperately in need of the vote than widows and single women. This attitude made her the target of frequent ridicule in newspaper commentary and editorial cartoons.
In 1890 Becker visited the spa town
Spa town
A spa town is a town situated around a mineral spa . Patrons resorted to spas to "take the waters" for their purported health benefits. The word comes from the Belgian town Spa. In continental Europe a spa was known as a ville d'eau...
of Aix-les-Bains
Aix-les-Bains
Aix-les-Bains is a commune in the Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.It is situated on the shore of Lac du Bourget, by rail north of Chambéry.-Geography:...
, where she fell ill and died, aged 63. Rather than continue publishing in her absence, the staff of the Women's Suffrage Journal decided to cease production. A final publication sent to subscribers included this note:
Works
- Botany for Novices (1866)
- "Female Suffrage" in The Contemporary Review (1867)
- "Is there any Specific Distinction between Male and Female Intellect?" in Englishwoman's Review of Social and Industrial Questions (1868)
- "On the Study of Science by Women" in The Contemporary Review (1869)
- "The Political Disabilities of Women" in The Westminster Review (1872)
Archives
The archives of Lydia Becker are held at The Women's Library at London Metropolitan UniversityLondon Metropolitan University
London Metropolitan University , located in London, England, was formed on 1 August 2002 by the amalgamation of the University of North London and the London Guildhall University . The University has campuses in the City of London and in the London Borough of Islington.The University operates its...
, ref 7LEB
External links
- Lydia Becker at Spartacus Educational
- "Lydia Becker: Pioneer Orator of the Women's Movement" by Joan Parker in the Manchester Region History Review Vol. 5, No. 2: Autumn/Winter 1991/1992.