Lady Elizabeth Swann (previously Schwann, née Duncan) (1855-14 April 1914) was a social activist, philanthropist, and advocate for trade unionism, and women's suffrage, and the development of

midwifery Midwifery is the health science and health profession that deals with pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period (including care of the newborn), in addition to the sexual and reproductive health of women throughout their lives. In many cou ...

, as well as an important figure in the development of organised humanism and the

Ethical movement The Ethical movement, also referred to as the Ethical Culture movement, Ethical Humanism or simply Ethical Culture, is an ethical, educational, and religious movement that is usually traced back to Felix Adler (1851–1933).

in Britain. She was the wife of

Liberal Party The Liberal Party is any of many political parties around the world. The meaning of ''liberal'' varies around the world, ranging from liberal conservatism on the right to social liberalism on the left. __TOC__ Active liberal parties This is a li ...

politician Sir Charles Ernest Swann MP. In 1896, she was President of the inaugural Annual Congress of the Union of Ethical Societies, which eventually became

Humanists UK Humanists UK, known from 1967 until May 2017 as the British Humanist Association (BHA), is a charitable organisation which promotes secular humanism and aims to represent "people who seek to live good lives without religious or superstitious be ...

. Humanists UK describes this as an "equivalent role" to the position of President of Humanists UK, which was created in 1919. In this light, she can be considered the first President of Humanists UK.

Life

Elizabeth Swann was born in Manchester, the third daughter of David Duncan. She married Charles Ernest Swann (then 'Schwann'), and the couple had four sons and one daughter:

Charles Duncan Charles Duncan may refer to: Politics and law * Charles T. Duncan (1838–1915), American lawyer and Virginia state judge * Charles Duncan (politician) Charles Duncan (8 June 1865 – 6 July 1933) was a British Labour Party politician and t ...

, Harold, Laurence Averil, Geoffrey, and Elizabeth Kathleen Mildred. Described as 'full of enthusiasm for good causes', Swann became actively involved in a number of progressive organisations, including the

Women's Liberal Federation The Women's Liberal Federation was an organisation that was part of the Liberal Party in the United Kingdom. History The Women's Liberal Federation (WLF) was formed on the initiative of Sophia Fry, who in 1886 called a meeting at her house of fi ...

. Swann was the first Honorary Secretary of the Manchester and Salford Women's Trade Union Council, established in 1895. The previous year, she had chaired a meeting of the Manchester and Salford Federation of Women Workers, and remained active in encouraging trade unionism. In 1895, Swann was one of a group of woman who - as the Association for the Compulsory Registration of Midwives - petitioned for a bill to regulate midwifery. The Association for the Compulsory Registration of Midwives and the Midwives Registration Association were organisations founded in 1893, and 'cooperated in the campaign for definitive legislation' in the practice of midwifery. The Midwives Act came into force in 1902. In 1904, Swann was signatory to an open letter requesting financial support for the training of midwives from, and working with, women of the working class. The association aimed:

to assist, by means of loans, grants, and free training, the education of the midwives whose services are so urgently demanded by the law and for public safety.

Death and legacy

Elizabeth Swann died at home in London on 14 April 1914. An obituary in the ''

Manchester Guardian ''The Guardian'' is a British daily newspaper. It was founded in 1821 as ''The Manchester Guardian'', and changed its name in 1959. Along with its sister papers ''The Observer'' and ''The Guardian Weekly'', ''The Guardian'' is part of the Gu ...

'' noted that as the wife of an MP:

she entered with exceptional ardour into all movements that concerned the welfare of the district. She was a good speaker, and by her public addresses, no less than by her attractive personality, she contributed much to her husband’s success in the constituency.

The ''Manchester Daily Citizen,'' similarly reported that:

In all causes, whether social or political, Lady Swann displayed the utmost zeal and enthusiasm, and it was always believed that the great help she gave her husband, together with her personal popularity, contributed in no small degree to his political success.

External links

Elizabeth Duncan Swann
on the Humanist Heritage website

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Swann, Elizabeth 1855 births 1914 deaths English humanists People from Manchester British women activists Wives of baronets 19th-century English women 19th-century English people