(Mary Anne) Frances Martin (November 4, 1829 – March 13, 1922) was a British educationist and author. She founded and ran what became the Frances Martin College for Working Women in London until 1966.

Life

Martin was born in

Richmond Richmond most often refers to: * Richmond, Virginia, the capital of Virginia, United States * Richmond, London, a part of London * Richmond, North Yorkshire, a town in England * Richmond, British Columbia, a city in Canada * Richmond, California, ...

in 1829. Her father had a private income from houses and investments he owned. She was one of four children born to Matilda Caroline and Edward Curtiss Martin. Her future changed when she became one of the first students at Queen's College, Harley Street when she was about twenty. The college's founder was the theologian

F. D. Maurice John Frederick Denison Maurice (1805–1872), known as F. D. Maurice, was an English Anglican theologian, a prolific author, and one of the founders of Christian socialism. Since the Second World War, interest in Maurice has expanded."Fre ...

and his aim was to ensure that governesses were better educated. She was a supporter of Maurice and she chose to lead the new ladies' college at Bedford Square when it started in 1852. She was assisted by Jane Benson who was Martin's life-long friend. The whole purpose of the educational facility was to prepare girls to attend Bedford College and Martin proved an inspirational teacher. However, the college's council feared that Martin was not following their intentions closely enough. In 1866 the council of Bedford college conducted an enquiry into the school.

Elisabeth Jesser Reid Elizabeth Jesser Reid (; 25 December 1789 – 1 April 1866) was an English social reformer, anti-slavery activist and philanthropist. She is best remembered as the founder of Bedford College. Biography Early life Elisabeth Jesser Sturch was ...

had just died and after discussion they decided that they were going to close the school so they could concentrate on higher education in May 1868. In 1867 her friend Alexander MacMillan placed her in charge of the Sunday Library for Household Reading. In 1854 Elizabeth Margaretta Maria Gilbert and William Hanks Levy (who was also blind) established a vocational training program, initially only for men, called "The Association for Promoting the General Welfare of the Blind" (GWB). Martin became a supporter and in time she wrote Gilbert's biography.Frances Martin
''Elizabeth Gilbert and Her Work for the Blind''
(Macmillan and Company 1887): 9. She founded the College for Working Women in 1874 after the Working Women's College decided to become co-educational. She was supported by George and Amelia Tansley, Llewellyn Davies, and Sir John Lubbock. Her new college was based in Fitzroy Street. Martin died in 1922 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 ...

and was buried by the grave of Jane Benson. She left £500 to the College for Working Women and the college decided to change its name to the Frances Martin College. The college operated until 1966 when it merged with the Working Mens College.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Martin, Frances 1829 births 1922 deaths Philanthropists from London People from Richmond, London