SUFFRAGIST, LADY FRANCES BALFOUR, 32 Addison Road, Kensington

 

On 12 May 1879 Lady Frances Campbell married Eustace James Anthony Balfour, youngest brother of Arthur James Balfour, later prime minister.

 

In 1889 Lady Frances began her political work when she joined the campaign to secure women's suffrage and became a leader of the constitutional suffragists. Her campaigning was informed by her mother and grandmother, who had been keen abolitionists in the anti-slavery campaigns. She also supported the equal education of women and equal entry to the professions, supporting her niece Ruth Balfour's decision to study and practise medicine. Lady Frances objected to the tactics of the militant Women's Social & Political Union. In the constitutional campaigns she marched, gave speeches, lobbied, and wrote extensively – she helped lead the Mud March of Feb 1907. Lady Frances served on the executive committee of the National Union for Women's Suffrage Society from its inception in 1897 until 1918, when British women over the age of thirty were granted the vote. In addition, she was president of the London Society for Women's Suffrage from 1896 to 1918, and an active member of the editorial board of the Englishwoman's Review. Due to her influential family and friends she had regular access to Parliament, and was able to lobby contacts in the Liberal, Conservative, and Unionist parties.