Janet Thomson Philip (26 November 1876 – 25 April 1959), known as Jessy Philip, Jessy Mair and later Janet Beveridge, was a member of the third cohort of female students to study at the

University of St Andrews (Aien aristeuein) , motto_lang = grc , mottoeng = Ever to ExcelorEver to be the Best , established = , type = Public research university Ancient university , endowment ...

and was School Secretary at the London School for Economics (LSE) from 1920 to 1939. She took a role in producing and promoting the

Beveridge Report The Beveridge Report, officially entitled ''Social Insurance and Allied Services'' ( Cmd. 6404), is a government report, published in November 1942, influential in the founding of the welfare state in the United Kingdom. It was drafted by the Libe ...

that her husband

William Beveridge William Henry Beveridge, 1st Baron Beveridge, (5 March 1879 – 16 March 1963) was a British economist and Liberal politician who was a progressive and social reformer who played a central role in designing the British welfare state. His 194 ...

had been commissioned to write by the

Churchill war ministry The Churchill war ministry was the United Kingdom's coalition government for most of the Second World War from 10 May 1940 to 23 May 1945. It was led by Winston Churchill, who was appointed Prime Minister by King George VI following the resig ...

Labour-Conservative coalition government.

Early life and education

Janet Thomson Philip, known as Jessy during her childhood and first marriage, was born in

Dundee Dundee (; sco, Dundee; gd, Dùn Dè or ) is Scotland's fourth-largest city and the 51st-most-populous built-up area in the United Kingdom. The mid-year population estimate for 2016 was , giving Dundee a population density of 2,478/km2 or ...

on 26 November 1876. She left the

High School of Dundee The High School of Dundee is an independent, co-educational, day school in Dundee, Scotland, which provides nursery, primary and secondary education to just over one thousand pupils. Its foundation has been dated to 1239, and it is the only priv ...

to study mathematics at the

University of St Andrews (Aien aristeuein) , motto_lang = grc , mottoeng = Ever to ExcelorEver to be the Best , established = , type = Public research university Ancient university , endowment ...

from 1893 to 1897.

Career

From July 1915, Philips volunteered for the Ministry of Munitions before joining as a staff member. She was appointed to a role at the Ministry of Food as it was inaugurated in 1916, and took on the role of Assistant Director for Bacon Distribution in September 1917. As "Jessy Mair", she was appointed

Officer 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 ...

in the

1918 New Year Honours The 1918 New Year Honours were appointments by King George V to various orders and honours to reward and highlight good works by citizens of the British Empire. The appointments were published in ''The London Gazette'' and ''The Times'' in Ja ...

. Between 1920 and 1938, she served as School Secretary and Acting Dean at the London School for Economics and was closely involved in the development of the LSE logo and motto. She had previously worked with William Beveridge, LSE Director, as his private secretary at the Ministry of Munitions. From 1935, Philips produced 30 columns a year on London University affairs for the ''Sunday Times'' for 3 guineas a week. Between 1934 and 1935, she encouraged the study of modern languages at the LSE, and championed the creation of courses for civil service examination. Archival research by

Ann Oakley Ann Rosamund Oakley (née Titmuss; born 17 January 1944) is a British sociologist, feminist, and writer. She is professor and founder-director of the Social Science Research Unit at the UCL Institute of Education of the University College Lo ...

, Professor of Sociology and Social Policy at the UCL, found that Philips (now married to Beveridge) was instrumental in helping to produce and publicise the

which led to the founding of the

welfare state A welfare state is a form of government in which the state (or a well-established network of social institutions) protects and promotes the economic and social well-being of its citizens, based upon the principles of equal opportunity, equitabl ...

in the United Kingdom.

Personal life

The graves of Lord and Lady Beveridge, 1992

While studying mathematics at St Andrews Philip met David Beveridge Mair, a mathematician from the

University of Cambridge , mottoeng = Literal: From here, light and sacred draughts. Non literal: From this place, we gain enlightenment and precious knowledge. , established = , other_name = The Chancellor, Masters and Schola ...

, when he was her external examiner. They married in

Newport on Tay Newport-on-Tay is a small town in the north-east of Fife in Scotland, acting as a commuter suburb for Dundee. The Fife Coastal Path passes through Newport-on-Tay. The area itself is surrounded by views of the two bridges that cross the River Tay ...

in 1897 and had four children, including

Lucy Mair Lucy Philip Mair (28 January 1901 – 1 April 1986) was a British anthropologist. She wrote on the subject of social organization, and contributed to the involvement of anthropological research in governance and politics. Her work on colonial ...

, a notable professor of

Anthropology Anthropology is the scientific study of humanity, concerned with human behavior, human biology, cultures, societies, and linguistics, in both the present and past, including past human species. Social anthropology studies patterns of behavi ...

. After he retired in 1933, David Mair rarely lived at home; he died in 1942. At the LSE Jessy Mair worked with her husband's cousin

(1st Baron Beveridge, KCB (5 March 1879 – 16 March 1963)) who was LSE Director between 1919–37. Six months after her first husband's death, she married Beveridge on 15 December 1942 and became Lady Beveridge. It is considered unlikely that their relationship was physical even after marriage. They are buried at Thockrington Church in

Northumberland Northumberland () is a county in Northern England, one of two counties in England which border with Scotland. Notable landmarks in the county include Alnwick Castle, Bamburgh Castle, Hadrian's Wall and Hexham Abbey. It is bordered by land on ...

, England.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Philip, Janet 1876 births 1959 deaths People educated at the High School of Dundee Alumni of the University of St Andrews British journalists Beveridge The Times people