Margery Corbett Ashby
Encyclopedia
Dame Margery Irene Corbett Ashby, DBE
(19 April 1882–15 May 1981) was a British
Liberal
politician, feminist and internationalist
.
She was born at Danehill, East Sussex
, the daughter of Charles Henry Corbett a barrister
who was sometime Liberal
MP for East Grinstead
and Marie Corbett
herself a Liberal feminist and local councillor in Uckfield
. Margery was educated at home. With her sister Cicely and friends, she founded the Younger Suffragists in 1901. Though she passed her Classics
exam at Newnham College, Cambridge University refused to grant her a degree because she was female.
After deciding against teaching, she was appointed Secretary of the National Union of Women's Suffrage Societies
in 1907. She married lawyer Brian Ashby in 1910. Their only child, a son, Michael, was born in 1914.
In 1918 she mounted the first of seven unsuccessful attempts to be elected to the House of Commons
. In 1929 she was Liberal
candidate at Hendon
.
She served as President of the International Woman Suffrage Alliance from 1923 to 1946.
(born 1914), was a neurologist who gave evidence as an expert witness
at the 1957 trial of suspected serial killer
John Bodkin Adams
.
, ref 7MCA
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...
(19 April 1882–15 May 1981) was a 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...
Liberal
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...
politician, feminist and internationalist
Internationalist
Internationalist may refer to:* Internationalism , a movement to increase cooperation across national borders* Internationalist, socialists opposed to World War I* The Internationalist Review, an e-journal founded in Maastricht...
.
She was born at Danehill, East Sussex
Danehill, East Sussex
Danehill is a village and civil parish in the Wealden District of East Sussex, England. The village is located five miles north-east of Haywards Heath and on the edge of the Ashdown Forest...
, the daughter of Charles Henry Corbett a barrister
Barrister
A barrister is a member of one of the two classes of lawyer found in many common law jurisdictions with split legal professions. Barristers specialise in courtroom advocacy, drafting legal pleadings and giving expert legal opinions...
who was sometime Liberal
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...
MP for East Grinstead
East Grinstead (UK Parliament constituency)
East Grinstead was a parliamentary constituency in the Kingdom of England, the Kingdom of Great Britain, and the United Kingdom. It first existed as a Parliamentary borough from 1307, returning two Members of Parliament to the House of Commons elected by the bloc vote system...
and Marie Corbett
Marie Corbett
Marie Corbett was an English suffragist, local government worker and supporter of the Liberal Party.-Family:Marie Gray was born in Kennington, London, the daughter of Charles and Eliza Gray from Tunbridge Wells. George Gray was a successful businessman who became rich through importing fruit...
herself a Liberal feminist and local councillor in Uckfield
Uckfield
-Development:The local Tesco has proposed the redevelopment of the central town area as has the town council. The Hub has recently been completed, having been acquired for an unknown figure, presumed to be about half a million pounds...
. Margery was educated at home. With her sister Cicely and friends, she founded the Younger Suffragists in 1901. Though she passed her Classics
Classics
Classics is the branch of the Humanities comprising the languages, literature, philosophy, history, art, archaeology and other culture of the ancient Mediterranean world ; especially Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome during Classical Antiquity Classics (sometimes encompassing Classical Studies or...
exam at Newnham College, Cambridge University refused to grant her a degree because she was female.
After deciding against teaching, she was appointed Secretary 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:...
in 1907. She married lawyer Brian Ashby in 1910. Their only child, a son, Michael, was born in 1914.
In 1918 she mounted the first of seven unsuccessful attempts to be elected to the House of Commons
British House of Commons
The House of Commons is the lower house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, which also comprises the Sovereign and the House of Lords . Both Commons and Lords meet in the Palace of Westminster. The Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 650 members , who are known as Members...
. In 1929 she was Liberal
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...
candidate at Hendon
Hendon
Hendon is a London suburb situated northwest of Charing Cross.-History:Hendon was historically a civil parish in the county of Middlesex. The manor is described in Domesday , but the name, 'Hendun' meaning 'at the highest hill', is earlier...
.
She served as President of the International Woman Suffrage Alliance from 1923 to 1946.
Family
Her son, Michael AshbyMichael Ashby
Michael George Corbett Ashby, M.A., M.B., M.R.C.P., F.R.C.P. was a consultant neurologist at the Whittington Hospital, London and an expert witness for the prosecution in the failed trial of suspected serial killer John Bodkin Adams.-Life:Ashby was born in London, the son of Arthur Brian Ashby, a...
(born 1914), was a neurologist who gave evidence as an expert witness
Expert witness
An expert witness, professional witness or judicial expert is a witness, who by virtue of education, training, skill, or experience, is believed to have expertise and specialised knowledge in a particular subject beyond that of the average person, sufficient that others may officially and legally...
at the 1957 trial of suspected serial killer
Serial killer
A serial killer, as typically defined, is an individual who has murdered three or more people over a period of more than a month, with down time between the murders, and whose motivation for killing is usually based on psychological gratification...
John Bodkin Adams
John Bodkin Adams
John Bodkin Adams was an Irish-born British general practitioner, convicted fraudster and suspected serial killer. Between the years 1946 and 1956, more than 160 of his patients died in suspicious circumstances. Of these, 132 left him money or items in their will. He was tried and acquitted for...
.
Archives
The archives of Margery Corbett Ashby 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 7MCA