Marie Corbett
Encyclopedia
Marie Corbett was an English suffragist, local government worker and supporter of the Liberal Party
.
, London, the daughter of Charles and Eliza Gray from Tunbridge Wells. George Gray was a successful businessman who became rich through importing fruit and producing confectionery. He and his wife Eliza were strong supporters of the Liberal Party who championed many progressive causes. In 1881 Marie Gray married Charles Henry Corbett, a barrister
. Corbett was later elected Liberal MP
for East Grinstead
sitting from 1906
until January 1910. They had two daughters and a son. One of their daughters was Dame Margery Corbett Ashby
international feminist campaigner and Liberal Parliamentary candidate.
(WLF). She was a member of the Burgess Hill
branch from 1905-09 and was sometime President of the Danehill
and East Grinstead branch. Charles Corbett strongly supported votes for women. He was a partisan in Parliament of the National Union of Women's Suffrage Societies
and a vigorous campaigner outside. In 1913 he helped to form the East Grinstead branch of the Men's League for Women's Suffrage
. . Like her husband and her famous daughter, Marie Corbett was more radical on women’s suffrage issues than the mainstream WLF. She was a friend of Louisa Martindale
and close to other Liberal feminists. In 1904, with Margery and her other daughter Cicely, she travelled to Berlin
to attend an International Women’s’ Suffrage conference and in 1907, again with Margery, she left the WLF to form the Liberal Women’s Suffrage Group. The Corbett family’s opinions and campaigning on the question of votes for women often attracted hostility in the traditionally conservative area of East Grinstead. Marie and her two feminist daughters often made public speeches on the subject of women's rights in East Grinstead High Street. East Grinstead was traditionally a safe Conservative
seat and the crowds were usually very hostile. A survey carried out in 1911 suggested that less than 20% of the women in East Grinstead supported women having the vote in parliamentary elections. This may have been one factor in Charles Corbett’s loss of his seat in the January 1910 general election where the Tory
candidate was said to have inflicted a crushing defeat.
In 1908 Mrs Corbett became honorary secretary of the Forward Suffrage Movement Within the Women’s Liberal Federation, a group founded by Eva McLaren and Frances Heron Maxwell to concentrate the suffrage efforts of Liberal women inside the Liberal Party and through the WLF. As a delegate of this group she attended a congress in Budapest
in 1913 organised by the International Women’s Suffrage Alliance
.
Board of guardians
for 36 years, one of the first women poor law guardians and was also recorded as being the first woman to serve as a Rural district
councillor in Uckfield. As part of her work she saw to it that all children were removed from the Workhouse
and placed with foster parents
. She was a founder of the Ashdown Forest
Boarding-Out Committee for Poor Law
Children. She was also a founder member and secretary of the East Grinstead
Women’s Soroptimist Society.
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...
.
Family
Marie Gray was born in KenningtonKennington
Kennington is a district of South London, England, mainly within the London Borough of Lambeth, although part of the area is within the London Borough of Southwark....
, London, the daughter of Charles and Eliza Gray from Tunbridge Wells. George Gray was a successful businessman who became rich through importing fruit and producing confectionery. He and his wife Eliza were strong supporters of the Liberal Party who championed many progressive causes. In 1881 Marie Gray married 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...
. Corbett was later elected Liberal MP
Parliament of the United Kingdom
The Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the supreme legislative body in the United Kingdom, British Crown dependencies and British overseas territories, located in London...
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...
sitting from 1906
United Kingdom general election, 1906
-Seats summary:-See also:*MPs elected in the United Kingdom general election, 1906*The Parliamentary Franchise in the United Kingdom 1885-1918-External links:***-References:*F. W. S. Craig, British Electoral Facts: 1832-1987**...
until January 1910. They had two daughters and a son. One of their daughters was Dame Margery Corbett Ashby
Margery Corbett Ashby
Dame Margery Irene Corbett Ashby, DBE 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...
international feminist campaigner and Liberal Parliamentary candidate.
Politics
Marie Corbett shared her parents' and her husband’s politics and was a stalwart member of the Women's Liberal FederationWomen's Liberal Federation
The Women's Liberal Federation was an organisation which was part of the Liberal Party in the United Kingdom during the 1880s.During this period women became more active in politics. The Women's Liberal Federation attempted to make the Liberal Party introduce a measure which gave women the vote...
(WLF). She was a member of the Burgess Hill
Burgess Hill
Burgess Hill is a civil parish and a town primarily located in the Mid Sussex district of West Sussex, England, close to the border with East Sussex, on the edge of the South Downs National Park...
branch from 1905-09 and was sometime President of the Danehill
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...
and East Grinstead branch. Charles Corbett strongly supported votes for women. He was a partisan in Parliament 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:...
and a vigorous campaigner outside. In 1913 he helped to form the East Grinstead branch of the Men's League for Women's Suffrage
Men's League for Women's Suffrage
The Men's League for Women's Suffrage was a society formed in 1907 by the left-wing writers Henry Brailsford, Max Eastman, Laurence Housman, Henry Nevinson and others to pursue women's suffrage.-External links:*...
. . Like her husband and her famous daughter, Marie Corbett was more radical on women’s suffrage issues than the mainstream WLF. She was a friend of Louisa Martindale
Louisa Martindale (feminist)
Louisa Martindale, née Spicer was a British activist for women's rights and suffragist.She was born in Woodford Green, Essex. Her father, James Spicer, was a wholesale stationer with a successful family business. The family were prominent Congregationalists.She founded the Ray Lodge Mission...
and close to other Liberal feminists. In 1904, with Margery and her other daughter Cicely, she travelled to Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
to attend an International Women’s’ Suffrage conference and in 1907, again with Margery, she left the WLF to form the Liberal Women’s Suffrage Group. The Corbett family’s opinions and campaigning on the question of votes for women often attracted hostility in the traditionally conservative area of East Grinstead. Marie and her two feminist daughters often made public speeches on the subject of women's rights in East Grinstead High Street. East Grinstead was traditionally a safe 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...
seat and the crowds were usually very hostile. A survey carried out in 1911 suggested that less than 20% of the women in East Grinstead supported women having the vote in parliamentary elections. This may have been one factor in Charles Corbett’s loss of his seat in the January 1910 general election where the Tory
Tory
Toryism is a traditionalist and conservative political philosophy which grew out of the Cavalier faction in the Wars of the Three Kingdoms. It is a prominent ideology in the politics of the United Kingdom, but also features in parts of The Commonwealth, particularly in Canada...
candidate was said to have inflicted a crushing defeat.
In 1908 Mrs Corbett became honorary secretary of the Forward Suffrage Movement Within the Women’s Liberal Federation, a group founded by Eva McLaren and Frances Heron Maxwell to concentrate the suffrage efforts of Liberal women inside the Liberal Party and through the WLF. As a delegate of this group she attended a congress in Budapest
Budapest
Budapest is the capital of Hungary. As the largest city of Hungary, it is the country's principal political, cultural, commercial, industrial, and transportation centre. In 2011, Budapest had 1,733,685 inhabitants, down from its 1989 peak of 2,113,645 due to suburbanization. The Budapest Commuter...
in 1913 organised by the International Women’s Suffrage Alliance
International Alliance of Women
The International Alliance of Women is a non-governmental, feminist organization, which embraces both women’s groups and individuals. The basic principle of the IAW is that the full and equal enjoyment of human rights is due to all women and girls....
.
Local government welfare work
Mrs Corbett championed poor relief. She was a member of the UckfieldUckfield
-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...
Board of guardians
Board of Guardians
Boards of guardians were ad hoc authorities that administered Poor Law in the United Kingdom from 1835 to 1930.-England and Wales:The boards were created by the Poor Law Amendment Act 1834, replacing the parish Overseers of the Poor established under the old poor law, following the recommendations...
for 36 years, one of the first women poor law guardians and was also recorded as being the first woman to serve as a Rural district
Rural district
Rural districts were a type of local government area – now superseded – established at the end of the 19th century in England, Wales, and Ireland for the administration of predominantly rural areas at a level lower than that of the administrative counties.-England and Wales:In England...
councillor in Uckfield. As part of her work she saw to it that all children were removed from the Workhouse
Workhouse
In England and Wales a workhouse, colloquially known as a spike, was a place where those unable to support themselves were offered accommodation and employment...
and placed with foster parents
Foster care
Foster care is the term used for a system in which a minor who has been made a ward is placed in the private home of a state certified caregiver referred to as a "foster parent"....
. She was a founder of the Ashdown Forest
Ashdown Forest
Ashdown Forest is an ancient area of tranquil open heathland occupying the highest sandy ridge-top of the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. It is situated some south of London in the county of East Sussex, England...
Boarding-Out Committee for Poor Law
English Poor Laws
The English Poor Laws were a system of poor relief which existed in England and Wales that developed out of late-medieval and Tudor-era laws before being codified in 1587–98...
Children. She was also a founder member and secretary of the East Grinstead
East Grinstead
East Grinstead is a town and civil parish in the northeastern corner of Mid Sussex, West Sussex in England near the East Sussex, Surrey, and Kent borders. It lies south of London, north northeast of Brighton, and east northeast of the county town of Chichester...
Women’s Soroptimist Society.