Mary Camilla Lawson (c.1865 –28 November 1939), born Mary Camilla Macan, later Lady Lawson, was a British

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.

Background

She was born in Bedford as Mary Camilla Macan, fourth daughter of Turner Arthur Macan of

Elstow Elstow is a village and civil parish in the English county of Bedfordshire. John Bunyan was born here at Bunyan's End, which lay approximately halfway between the hamlet of Harrowden and Elstow's High Street. History Countess Judith, niece of ...

Bedfordshire Bedfordshire (; abbreviated Beds) is a ceremonial county in the East of England. The county has been administered by three unitary authorities, Borough of Bedford, Central Bedfordshire and Borough of Luton, since Bedfordshire County Council wa ...

and Cariff

County Armagh County Armagh (, named after its county town, Armagh) is one of the six counties of Northern Ireland and one of the traditional thirty-two counties of Ireland. Adjoined to the southern shore of Lough Neagh, the county covers an area of and ha ...

. On 28 April 1891, she married Wilfrid Lawson, heir to the Baronetcy of Brayton, Cumberland. They

honeymoon A honeymoon is a vacation taken by newlyweds immediately after their wedding, to celebrate their marriage. Today, honeymoons are often celebrated in destinations considered exotic or romantic. In a similar context, it may also refer to the phase ...

ed in

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...

and then resided at

Isel Hall, Cumberland Isel Hall is an ancient Cumbrian residence that sits on a steep rise on the northern banks of the River Derwent, south of Bassenthwaite Lake, east-north-east of Cockermouth, with views over the Lake District fells and Skiddaw. It was once t ...

. Their marriage did not produce children. She became Lady Lawson in 1906 when her husband succeeded to the Baronetcy.

Political career

For many years she helped her father-in-law, Sir Wilfrid Lawson MP, in his North of England constituency. She did much work for temperance reform and was a member of the

British Women's Temperance Association The White Ribbon Association (WRA), previously known as the British Women's Temperance Association (BWTA), is an organization that seeks to educate the public about alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs, as well as gambling. Founding of British Wom ...

. Lawson was Liberal candidate for the

Bedford Bedford is a market town in Bedfordshire, England. At the 2011 Census, the population of the Bedford built-up area (including Biddenham and Kempston) was 106,940, making it the second-largest settlement in Bedfordshire, behind Luton, whilst ...

division of

at the 1922 General Election. She stood as an Asquith Liberal, in opposition to the sitting Liberal MP who was a supporter of the Lloyd George Coalition Government. Her intervention split the Liberal vote and helped the Unionist candidate take the seat. She did not stand for parliament again.British Parliamentary Election Results 1918-1973, FWS Craig

Electoral record

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Lawson, Mary Camilla 1860s births Liberal Party (UK) parliamentary candidates 1939 deaths People from Bedfordshire Wives of baronets