Ethel Maud, Lady Pearson, (née Fraser; 3 November 1870 – 10 April 1959) was a British

humanitarian Humanitarianism is an active belief in the value of human life, whereby humans practice benevolent treatment and provide assistance to other humans to reduce suffering and improve the conditions of humanity for moral, altruistic, and emotional ...

who was active in charities to aid the blind. She was born in

Hampstead Hampstead () is an area in London, which lies northwest of Charing Cross, and extends from Watling Street, the A5 road (Roman Watling Street) to Hampstead Heath, a large, hilly expanse of parkland. The area forms the northwest part of the Lon ...

, London, the daughter of William John Fraser of

Herne Bay, Kent Herne Bay is a seaside town on the north coast of Kent in South East England. It is north of Canterbury and east of Whitstable. It neighbours the ancient villages of Herne and Reculver and is part of the City of Canterbury local government ...

, an engineer, and his wife Jane. On 3 June 1897, she married, as his second wife, the publisher

Arthur Pearson Arthur Pearson may refer to: * Arthur Pearson (British politician) (1897–1980), British Labour Party Member of Parliament for Pontypridd, 1938–1970 * Sir Arthur Pearson, 1st Baronet (1866–1921), British newspaper magnate and publisher * Arthu ...

, who was created a

baronet A baronet ( or ; abbreviated Bart or Bt) or the female equivalent, a baronetess (, , or ; abbreviation Btss), is the holder of a baronetcy, a hereditary title awarded by the British Crown. The title of baronet is mentioned as early as the 14th ...

in 1916. She became heavily involved in St Dunstan's Hostel for the Blind, the home for blinded soldiers that her husband, who became blind himself, founded in 1915. For these services, she was appointed

Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding contributions to the arts and sciences, work with charitable and welfare organisations, and public service outside the civil service. It was established o ...

(DBE) in the 1920 Birthday Honours. She was also a vice-president of the

Royal National Institute for the Blind The Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) is a UK charity offering information, support and advice to almost two million people in the UK with sight loss. History The RNIB was founded by Thomas Rhodes Armitage, a doctor who had eye ...

(RNIB). She founded the Blind Musicians Concert Party, which enabled musicians who had been blinded in the war to earn a living for themselves, as well as bring in funds for St Dunstan's and the RNIB. By 1920, it had raised an estimated (). Following her husband's death in 1921 she succeeded him as president of St Dunstan's and held the position until 1947, when she was succeeded by their only son, Sir Neville Pearson. Lady Pearson died on 10 April 1959, aged 88, at her home at 17 Eresby House, Rutland Gate,

Knightsbridge Knightsbridge is a residential and retail district in central London, south of Hyde Park, London, Hyde Park. It is identified in the London Plan as one of two international retail centres in London, alongside the West End of London, West End. ...

, London.

Footnotes

1870 births 1959 deaths British women in World War I Dames Commander of the Order of the British Empire English humanitarians People from Hampstead Pearson baronets Wives of baronets Wives of knights {{philanthropist-stub