Muriel Hanschell (3 October 1884 – 28 May 1971) was a Barbadian social worker and politician. She was appointed to the Legislative Council in 1949, becoming the first female member of the

Parliament of Barbados The Parliament of Barbados is the national legislature of Barbados. It is accorded legislative supremacy by Chapter V of the Constitution of Barbados.Constitution, Chapter V, Part 1; Section 35 The Parliament is bicameral in composition and is ...

Biography

Hanschell was born in Barbados in October 1884,''The British Caribbean Who, What, Why, Volume 1'', p55 the daughter of Herbert Greaves, the Chief Justice of Barbados. She was educated at Queen's College on the island before attending

Newnham College Newnham College is a women's constituent college of the University of Cambridge. The college was founded in 1871 by a group organising Lectures for Ladies, members of which included philosopher Henry Sidgwick and suffragist campaigner Millicent ...

at 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 ...

, where she earned a BA in mathematics. Returning to Barbados, she began carrying out social work, initially by distributing milk powder from her garage. She married Albert James Hanschell in 1912 and had three children.''The Women's Who's who'', Shaw Publishing Company, 1934, p203 In 1921 she co-founded the Child Health Committee (later known as the Baby Welfare League), serving as its secretary and later president. She was also president of the Family Welfare Society and Naval Welfare League, and served on the Board of Governors of the St. Michael School between 1928 and 1945. she was awarded an MBE in the

1928 Birthday Honours The 1928 Birthday 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 made to celebrate the official birthday of The King, and were p ...

. In 1949 Hanschell was appointed to the Legislative Council, becoming the first female member of the Barbadian parliament.Women in Politics in Barbados
Caribbean Elections She remained a member until retiring in 1954. She died on 28 May 1971.This Day in History – March 8
Barbados Museum

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hanschell, Muriel 1884 births Alumni of Newnham College, Cambridge Barbadian social workers Members of the Senate of Barbados 1971 deaths 20th-century Barbadian women politicians 20th-century Barbadian politicians Queen's College (Barbados) alumni