Beatrice Clugston (19 September 1827 – 5 June 1888) was a

British British may refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * British people, nationals or natives of the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories, and Crown Dependencies. ** Britishness, the British identity and common culture * British English, ...

philanthropist in Glasgow.

Early life

Clugston was born in

Glasgow Glasgow ( ; sco, Glesca or ; gd, Glaschu ) is the most populous city in Scotland and the fourth-most populous city in the United Kingdom, as well as being the 27th largest city by population in Europe. In 2020, it had an estimated popul ...

in 1827. She was raised in Glasgow to parents Mary (born Mackenzie) and John Clugston. Her father was an accountant who in time would own ''John Clugston & Co. (Bleachers)'' in south-east Glasgow. Clugston founded the Glasgow Royal Dorcas Society in 1863 or 1864. The Dorcas Society would make sure that those leaving hospital had sufficient clothes and they would also give them some money to help see them through their recovery. Anyone who would not get any visitors would get a visit from someone from the society to check they were okay.

Fundraising

Her remarkable talent was in fundraising where she invited the right people to the right events. At the Botanic Gardens she organised an event that raised £24,000. She raised money for the Samaritan Society of the

Western Infirmary The Western Infirmary was a teaching hospital situated in the West End of Glasgow, Scotland, that was managed by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde. It was opened in 1874 and closed in 2015. History After the University of Glasgow moved from the city ...

, Glasgow's Sick Children's Hospital and the local Magdalene Institution. In 1871 she ran an event at the City Hall and her supporters included

Princess Louise Princess Louise may refer to: ;People: * Princess Louise, Duchess of Argyll, 1848–1939, the sixth child and fourth daughter of Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom * Princess Louise, Princess Royal and Duchess of Fife, 1867–1931, the ...

, the duke and duchess of Argyll, the duke and duchess of Roxburghe making up twenty titled attendees. Broomhill Hospital was financed by a donation from Clugston and the "Association for the Relief of Incurables in Glasgow and the West of Scotland" as a facility for incurable patients such as those suffering from

cancer Cancer is a group of diseases involving abnormal cell growth with the potential to invade or spread to other parts of the body. These contrast with benign tumors, which do not spread. Possible signs and symptoms include a lump, abnormal b ...

and it opened in 1876. The hospital would take those could not be cured and it would not accept paupers. The hospital expanded and in 1893 the hospital had a capacity for 100 patients Clugston did not fare so well and in 1876 she was very poor. Despite this she would bring back home people who needed help. They would be fed but the food stores would be emptied. An appeal brought in £3,000 and an annuity was organised. Her mother was happy when they moved away from Glasgow as it stopped her daughter from offering more help.

Death and legacy

Clugston died in

Ardrossan Ardrossan (; ) is a town on the North Ayrshire coast in southwestern Scotland. The town has a population of 10,670 and forms part of a conurbation with Saltcoats and Stevenston known as the 'Three Towns'. Ardrossan is located on the east shore ...

in 1888. In 1891 a memorial to her was created at Broomhill hospital. That hospital would go on to expand further closing finally in 1995. Her legacy is now referenced in Beatrice Meadows, a new housing estate built on the grounds of where Broomhill Hospital stood, with Clugston Court the central street in the estate.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Clugston, Beatrice Philanthropists from Glasgow 1827 births 1888 deaths 19th-century British philanthropists 19th-century women philanthropists