Frances Helen Simson (1854–1938) was a Scottish

suffragist Suffrage, political franchise, or simply franchise, is the right to vote in public, political elections and referendums (although the term is sometimes used for any right to vote). In some languages, and occasionally in English, the right to v ...

, campaigner for women's higher education and one of the first of eight women graduates from the

University of Edinburgh The University of Edinburgh ( sco, University o Edinburgh, gd, Oilthigh Dhùn Èideann; abbreviated as ''Edin.'' in post-nominals) is a public research university based in Edinburgh, Scotland. Granted a royal charter by King James VI in 15 ...

in 1893.

Early life

Simpson was born in Edinburgh 2 April 1854. She was the daughter of William Simson (1811–1858), secretary of the Bank of Scotland, and Jane Christiana Aberdein (''b''. 1820) and was one of nine children. She lived with her family in Eton Terrace, New Town, for much of her life.

Education

Frances Simson was the eldest, at 38 years of age, of all the women who graduated in Masters of Arts, made possible by the Universities (Scotland) Act of 1889. Simson had enrolled in 1867 to degree classes delivered by the

Edinburgh Association for the University Education of Women The Edinburgh Association for the University Education of Women (EAUEW), originally known as the Edinburgh Ladies' Educational Association (ELEA), campaigned for higher education for women from 1867 until 1892 when Scottish universities started ...

(EAUEW; formerly the Edinburgh Ladies' Educational Association, ELEA, founded in 1867).

Women's Rights

Together with Margaret Nairn, Elsie Inglis, Frances Melville and

Chrystal Macmillan Jessie Chrystal Macmillan (13 June 1872 – 21 September 1937) was a suffragist, peace activist, barrister, feminist and the first female science graduate from the University of Edinburgh as well as that institution's first female honours gradu ...

, Simson petitioned the right for five women graduates to vote for the University MP at the general election of 1906 to no avail. Women did not have the right to vote in elections, but Simson and the others wanted to make this a test case, so went to an appeal in November 1907, which also failed. The group then were rallied to raise £1000 to support mounting their case for women graduates to be given the vote, to the

House of Lords The House of Lords, also known as the House of Peers, is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Membership is by appointment, heredity or official function. Like the House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminste ...

in November 1908 where Macmillan opened and performed as senior counsel, with Simson making general argument and closing the case on 12 November. Margaret Nairn wrote to Simson on 17 November 1908, thanking her for speaking in their cause, and saying that 'y''our words and Miss Macmillan's will go down in history''' and quoted

Shakespeare William Shakespeare ( 26 April 1564 – 23 April 1616) was an English playwright, poet and actor. He is widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's natio ...

's '' Love’s Labours Lost. Act IV. Sc. 1. ’and praise we may afford to any lady that subdues a Lord!’'' (original letter is in the University of Edinburgh archives). Some women did not get the right to vote for members of parliament in the UK until the passing of the ''Representation of the People Act 1918''. Simson was also the president of the Scottish Universities Women's Suffrage Union, and affiliated to NUWSS. Simson was warden of

Masson Hall Masson Hall opened in 1897 as the first 'proper' hall of residence for women attending the University of Edinburgh. It was established by the Edinburgh Association for the Education of University Women (EAEUW) at 31 George Square. This site is ...

of Residence for Women Students in Edinburgh between the years of 1897-1917.

Later life

In October 1933, the year University of Edinburgh celebrated its 350th anniversary, Simson was awarded an honorary degree of LLD, as the only woman graduand, recognising her responsibility in the university education of women. Later that year, at the time she was president of the Edinburgh Equal Citizenship Society which emerged from the national group successor to the NUWSS, and was working with

Rosaline Masson Rosaline Masson (1867–1949) was a Scottish author and a prolific writer of novels, biographies, histories and other works. Life Rosaline Masson was born on 6 May 1867 in Edinburgh and was the daughter of suffrage campaigner Emily Rosaline ...

, and honoured in a luncheon held at the site of the former Caledonian Hotel on Princes Street, Edinburgh. Lady Alexandra Watson, Dame Sarah Siddons, Dr. Frances Melville, Professor E.T. Whittaker, and Dr Marion Gilchrist were among, hundred-plus guests that attended the event in honour of her work campaigning for women's education.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Simson, Frances 1854 births 1938 deaths Scottish suffragists Alumni of the University of Edinburgh People from Edinburgh Scottish educators