Margaret MacDonald (spouse)
Encyclopedia
Margaret MacDonald, née Margaret Ethel Gladstone (1870 – 1911) was a feminist, social reformer, and the wife of British politician and future Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
, Ramsay MacDonald
from 1896 until her death from blood poisoning in 1911. He subsequently became British
Prime Minister three times, but did not remarry.
Margaret Gladstone was born in London to John Hall Gladstone
, later Fullerian Professor of Chemistry at the Royal Institution, and unrelated to the Gladstones
of the Liberal Party
. She was educated both at home and at Doreck College (Bayswater, London). Early in adulthood she was involved in voluntary social work, including visits for the Charity Organisation Society in Hoxton
.
By 1890 she was a keen socialist, influenced by the Christian Socialists and the Fabian Society
.
In 1894 she joined the Women's Industrial Council, serving on several committees and organising the enquiry into home work in London, which was published in 1897. She met Ramsay Macdonald through this work in 1895. She was very comfortably off, although not hugely wealthy. This allowed them to indulge in foreign travel, visiting Canada
and the United States
in 1897, South Africa
in 1902, Australia
and New Zealand
in 1906 and India
several times.
After her marriage she was concerned about the need for skilled work and training for women, and played a key part in establishing the first trade schools for girls in 1904. She continued this work until 1910.
She was a member of the National Union of Women Workers. She served on the executive of the National Union of Women's Suffrage Societies
, although she was opposed to militant action. In 1906 she became involved in the formation of the Women's Labour League until her death in 1911.
The marriage to Ramsay MacDonald was a very happy one, and they had six children, including Malcolm MacDonald
(1901-81), who had a prominent career as a politician, colonial governor and diplomat, and Ishbel MacDonald
(1903-82), who was very close to her father.
Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the Head of Her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom. The Prime Minister and Cabinet are collectively accountable for their policies and actions to the Sovereign, to Parliament, to their political party and...
, Ramsay MacDonald
Ramsay MacDonald
James Ramsay MacDonald, PC, FRS was a British politician who was the first ever Labour Prime Minister, leading a minority government for two terms....
from 1896 until her death from blood poisoning in 1911. He subsequently became 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...
Prime Minister three times, but did not remarry.
Margaret Gladstone was born in London to John Hall Gladstone
John Hall Gladstone
John Hall Gladstone FRS was a British chemist. He served as President of the Physical Society between 1874 and 1876 and during 1877–1879 was President of the Chemical Society...
, later Fullerian Professor of Chemistry at the Royal Institution, and unrelated to the Gladstones
William Ewart Gladstone
William Ewart Gladstone FRS FSS was a British Liberal statesman. In a career lasting over sixty years, he served as Prime Minister four separate times , more than any other person. Gladstone was also Britain's oldest Prime Minister, 84 years old when he resigned for the last time...
of the Liberal Party
Liberal Party (UK)
The Liberal Party was one of the two major political parties of the United Kingdom during the 19th and early 20th centuries. It was a third party of negligible importance throughout the latter half of the 20th Century, before merging with the Social Democratic Party in 1988 to form the present day...
. She was educated both at home and at Doreck College (Bayswater, London). Early in adulthood she was involved in voluntary social work, including visits for the Charity Organisation Society in Hoxton
Hoxton
Hoxton is an area in the London Borough of Hackney, immediately north of the financial district of the City of London. The area of Hoxton is bordered by Regent's Canal on the north side, Wharf Road and City Road on the west, Old Street on the south, and Kingsland Road on the east.Hoxton is also a...
.
By 1890 she was a keen socialist, influenced by the Christian Socialists and the Fabian Society
Fabian Society
The Fabian Society is a British socialist movement, whose purpose is to advance the principles of democratic socialism via gradualist and reformist, rather than revolutionary, means. It is best known for its initial ground-breaking work beginning late in the 19th century and continuing up to World...
.
In 1894 she joined the Women's Industrial Council, serving on several committees and organising the enquiry into home work in London, which was published in 1897. She met Ramsay Macdonald through this work in 1895. She was very comfortably off, although not hugely wealthy. This allowed them to indulge in foreign travel, visiting Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
and the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in 1897, South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
in 1902, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
and New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
in 1906 and India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
several times.
After her marriage she was concerned about the need for skilled work and training for women, and played a key part in establishing the first trade schools for girls in 1904. She continued this work until 1910.
She was a member of the National Union of Women Workers. She served on the executive of the National Union of Women's Suffrage Societies
National Union of Women's Suffrage Societies
The National Union of Women's Suffrage Societies , also known as the Suffragists was an organisation of women's suffrage societies in the United Kingdom.-Formation and campaigning:...
, although she was opposed to militant action. In 1906 she became involved in the formation of the Women's Labour League until her death in 1911.
The marriage to Ramsay MacDonald was a very happy one, and they had six children, including Malcolm MacDonald
Malcolm MacDonald
Malcolm John MacDonald OM, PC was a British politician and diplomat.-Background:MacDonald was the son of Prime Minister Ramsay MacDonald and Margaret MacDonald. Like his father he was born in Lossiemouth, Moray...
(1901-81), who had a prominent career as a politician, colonial governor and diplomat, and Ishbel MacDonald
Ishbel MacDonald
Ishbel Allan MacDonald was the daughter of Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Ramsay MacDonald and his wife Margaret MacDonald née Gladstone. Margaret's death in 1911 - a year after their son David had died - left Ramsay a single father to his remaining five children...
(1903-82), who was very close to her father.