ARTIST AND SUFFRAGIST, BARBARA LEIGH SMITH BODICHON – 5 Blandford Square, Marylebone

Born in 1827 Barbara Bodichon was an English educationalist, artist, and a leading early nineteenth century feminist and activist for women's rights.

In 1866 she decided the time was right to campaign for the franchise, and she formed the first ever Women's Suffrage Committee. This group organised the women's suffrage petition, which John Stuart Mill presented to the House of Commons on their behalf.

She then toured the country where she held meetings on the subject of women's suffrage. Her speeches converted many women to the cause, including Lydia Becker, the future leader of the movement. Bodichon also wrote and published a series of pamphlets on the subject of women's rights. Although her main efforts went into the women's suffrage campaign, Bodichon continued her work to improve women's education.

Bodichon joined with Emily Davies to raise funds for the first women's college in Cambridge. Girton College was opened in 1873 but women students at Girton were not admitted to full membership of the University of Cambridge until April 1948.

In 1877 Bodichon was taken seriously ill and although she recovered she was left paralyzed. Although Bodichon retained her interest in women's rights, she was no longer able to take an active role in the movement. Bodichon remained an invalid until her death in Hastings in 1891. In her will Barbara Bodichon left a large sum of money to Girton College.