Women in History

Having changed career a couple of times in my life and gained formal qualifications up to MSc I am an advocate of remembering women that changed our world but received little, if any recognition. Education for women wasn’t a priority and the struggles to be heard and listened to must have felt insurmountable. This leads me to write about Sarah Maria Beach who was born in Birmingham, England to parents Richard and Mary Beach on the Monday 5^th November 1770.

(Stencil by Stewy from a portrait by Isambard Kingdom Brunel)

Setting the scene

Women had no say in society and no right to vote until the 19^th Century. Education was for men only. What must that have been like if you were a woman that had ideas and wanted more than the society norms?

Women were perceived as inferior to men and their role in society was that of childbearing, needlework and to please their husband! Women could not own properties or leave the house without a chaperone and were confined to the home, filling their time with knitting, sewing and their children. Women were considered intellectually inferior to their male counterparts. This seems incomprehensible in our society today. I have been educated and have had the opportunity to study at university and gained many qualifications to my name. Much of the change we see now came about through women like Sarah and the suffragette movement in the 19^th century.

(Photo Glasgow Women’s Library)

There were women that broke the mould in the 1700’s and strived to be heard, wanting education like their male counterparts. Sarah Maria Beach was born in this era of suppressed women but clearly wanted her ideas and inventions to be recognised.

Sarah married Samuel Guppy in 1795 and in 1811 Sarah had patented the first of her inventions, although Sarah could not file for a patent under her name as she was a woman! Now considering the lack of formal education and society’s views about women, this was a remarkable achievement. Sarah had patented a method of making safe piling for bridges. Thomas Telford gained Sarah’s permission to use her design for suspension bridge foundations. Sarah did not get any financial renumeration from Thomas as she waived any fee. I wonder why she did this? Was it pressure from her husband about earning an income or was it that she hadn’t fully appreciated her role in this invention? Monetary gain could have been seen as indecent in the society of that time. There appears to be little evidence that Sarah was given any credit for her inventions by the engineers that used them. Sarah was ahead of her time with her designs and inventions.

(First page of Sarah Guppy’s bridge patent of 1811)

Sarah was a family friend of Isambard Kingdom Brunel and she became involved in the Great Western Railway. In 1841 Sarah wrote a letter to the committee, recommending planting willows and poplars to stabilise embankments. Sarah had written about the unpleasantness of speaking about herself as it was considered boastful. This gives an insight into how even though she had patented her ideas, Sarah was still bound by society and how they perceived a woman.

Sarah was fortunate to grow up in a wealthy family, she was educated and had around her many innovative thinkers. Sarah learned how to run a business and learned about the engineering industry due to her husband Samuel being a machinery builder. Samuel clearly did not feel threatened by his wife taking an interest in his manufacturing and engineering business and encouraged Sarah to get involved with negotiating business deals.

Sarah Guppy also contributed to female education rights, public health issues and agriculture and used her social status as a platform for the welfare of vulnerable groups. Sarah encouraged progress and positively reinforced the need for change to ensure equal rights for all.

In later life the widowed Sarah married Richard Eyre Coote, 28 years her junior. Unfortunately, he spent all her money and she eventually left him, living on her own before she died at the age of 81.

Sarah’s suspension bridge design has paved the way for modern infrastructure and the Clifton Suspension Bridge would not exist without her design. I am uncertain whether Sarah was too modest to take credit and financial renumeration for her designs or whether the pressure of society did not enable her to take ownership of them. The one thing that is certain is that Sarah made a positive change for women throughout the world.

Karen Wells

Avalon Legal Blog, Copyright June 2022

Women Scientists-Marie Curie

Avalon Legal Blog

Our blog this month is on famous women that have led change or made a difference to society. Due to our current situation with Covid 19 and the scientists that are working tirelessly to create vaccines for Covid 19, I thought it appropriate to focus on Marie Curie.

Marie Curie was a scientist and I think it is fair to say most people know what she discovered; and if you do not read on to find out. Marie was born in Poland and later moved to France and met her husband to be, who was also a scientist, called Pierre.

In 1903 Marie and her husband Pierre were awarded the Nobel Prize for their scientific discoveries. They discovered radioactivity and two new elements called polonium and radium. Their ground-breaking work led to the development of radiotherapy and X Rays. Did you know that the first portable X Ray machine was developed and used during World War One, all thanks to Marie and Pierre.

Then in 1911 Marie was awarded another Nobel prize. This was historically significant with the scientific discoveries and also that Marie was the first woman in history to be awarded the prestigious Nobel Prize; and the only one to be awarded the Nobel Prize twice. Marie became a professor at the University of Paris in 1906 and was the first woman professor at the university.

The Curie institute in Paris was founded in 1920 and in Warsaw in 1932; both medical research facilities are used for medical research today.

Sadly in 1934 Marie died from Aplastic anaemia from the exposure during her scientific experiments. Today we know about radiation and it’s affect on our bodies. We use precautions when using radiation to minimise the risks to the patient and medical and nursing teams.

Today we have developed further technologies, but the X Ray is still used in conjunction with other medical investigations. Without Marie and Pierre’s work in this field none of this would be possible today.

Influential women through history-Mary Jane Seacole 1805 – 14 May 1881

Let’s take a look and delve into the history behind another amazing influential woman. Mary Seacole born in Jamaica and was the daughter of James Grant, a Scottish Lieutenant in the British Army.

Mary’s mother was a healer and had a vast knowledge of tropical diseases and a Doctors skill at treating illness and injuries.

Mary gained her nursing skills at Blundell Hall in Kingston, Jamaica; and had learned from her mother and the Army Doctors in treating and healing people. Mary was proud of both her Jamaican and Scottish ancestry.

On the 10th November 1836 Mary married Edwin Horatio Hamilton Seacole. They moved to Black River where they opened a provisions store; this failed to make them any money and they returned to Blundell Hall in the early 1840s.

Unfortunately Mary had a difficult time during 1843 and 1844. The family suffered a house fire in which their boarding house was destroyed and in October 1844 Mary’s husband died, followed by her mother. The boarding house was re built and Mary took control and managed the hotel herself. Blundell Hall had many European military visitors and Mary was well known and respected among them.

The Cholera epidemic of 1850, killed 32,000 Jamaican people. Mary had treated people and thought there was a link between the Cholera outbreak and a steamer, that had arrived from New Orleans.

In 1851 Mary took a trip to see her brother in Cruces; shortly after she had arrived the town was struck by cholera. Mary, having seen and managed this disease previously, was able to help care for the people. In fact Mary cared for the first person with Cholera during this outbreak; and they lived; gaining Mary a reputation for being able to heal patients with Cholera.

Mary did not charge the poor for treatment but did charge the rich. Towards the end of the epidemic Mary contracted Cholera and had to rest for a significant period of time.

Mary arrived back in Jamaica in 1853 and soon after her arrival the medical authority asked for her help with the outbreak of yellow fever. Mary reported that there was not much success in treating these sick people and many died.

In 1854 Mary Seacole had read reports in newspapers on the outbreak of war. Mary decided she would travel to England and volunteer as a nurse.

The Crimean War lasted from October 1853 until 1 April 1856 and was fought between the Russian Empire and an alliance of the United Kingdom, France, the Kingdom of Sardinia, and the Ottoman Empire.

Mary’s offer of help to nurse the sick soldiers was repeatedly turned down and in the end she used her own resources to travel to the Crimea and opened the British Hotel in March 1855.

In 1855, William Howard Russell, a correspondent of The Times, wrote that Mary was “a successful doctor” and “cured men”. Mary was always seen in attendance on the battlefield tending to the injured soldiers. Mary’s peers soon discovered that Mary and her knowledge of healing had good success rates.

The war ceased in March 1856 and Mary was as in a difficult financial position. Mary sold what she could and the expensive items were auctioned, fetching lower than value prices; Mary then returned to England.
On returning to England Mary was bankrupt and in poor health; Queen Victoria’s nephew supported her by fund raising on her behalf. The British press highlighted Mary’s plight and a fund was established for people to donate money.

In 1867, due to Mary’s financial needs, the Seacole fund was re-started. The patrons included the Prince of Wales, the Duke of Edinburgh, the Duke of Cambridge, and many other senior military officers. This fund enabled Mary to buy land in Kingston, Jamaica, near New Blundell Hall; where she built a home and a property to rent out.

Mary moved back to London in 1870 and in 1881 Mary died, whilst boarding at a property in Paddington, London.

Mary left an estate valued at more than £2,500. Mary had written a Will, her sister being the main beneficiary, along with some legacies. Mary was buried in St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Cemetery, Harrow Road, Kensal Green, London.

Even though Mary Seacole died without owning any property she knew the importance of making a Will, however even in 1881 there was a form of inheritance tax on legacies and gifts of residue, which was dependent on who received the gift.

This legacy tax as it was called ranged from 1% to 10% on anything over £20, which equates to approximately £2500.00 in today’s money.

Mary’s total estate of over £2500.00 in 1881 would be over £306,000.00 in 2020, which if she had died in 2020 meant that there would be no inheritance tax to pay; but in 1881 the duty due would be at best 3% of the estate paid to the Crown.

Inheritance Tax is not an option but by making a Will incorporating estate planning the total amount due to HM Treasury can be limited especially inheritance tax is payable at 40%, in certain circumstances.

For further details please contact us at:

Avalon Legal

07506583669

info@avalonlegal.org

Influential women and their estates after death.

Diana, Princess of Wales, 1961–97

Diana made her will in 1993 but amended it in 1996 and changed a trustee to include her sister. Diana’s mother was also a trustee. The estate was worth £21 million- after taxes this was reduced to £17 million.

The Will gave instructions for the majority of the estate to be distributed between her two sons; with instructions they were to receive their inheritance on turning 25 years of age. Diana’s brother was given the responsibility to look after Diana’s possessions until William and Harry became of age to inherit them.

Diana had written a letter of wishes as well and asked that a percentage of her personal property be given to her 17 Godchildren. Diana’s Trustees petitioned the probate court for a “variance” of the Will and the letter of wishes was discounted. The letter of wishes being discounted because it did not contain “certain language required by British law”.

The variance also prevented the estate from being distributed between her sons at the age of 25 but postponed it until they were 30. Diana’s butler was also left around £50,000 in cash.

This matter highlights the need to have a Will and letter of wishes professionally constructed rather than relying on High Street packs or writing your own.

The matter also considers the use of letters of wishes, which, whilst being instructions to the Trustees; are not legally binding.

Letters of wishes, however, can be used to great effect in detailing funeral requirements and as simple supplemental instructions to a personal possessions clause in the Will.

For further information contact at Avalon Legal:

07506583669

info@avalonlegal.org