Lady Mabel Fitzwilliam

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Lady Mabel Florence Harriet Wentworth-Fitzwilliam (14 July 1870 – 26 September 1951) was an English socialist politician, later known as Lady Mabel Smith.[1]

Her father was William Wentworth Fitzwilliam, Viscount Milton, the eldest son of William Wentworth-FitzWilliam, 6th Earl FitzWilliam. Her father died before inheriting the Earldom and it passed to her brother, William Wentworth-FitzWilliam, 7th Earl FitzWilliam[2] whose lifestyle she criticized; "he had so much and everyone else had so little" [3].

She married Lt. Col. William Mackenzie Smith on 29 July 1899 and went to live in Barnes Hall near Grenoside, Sheffield[4]. After her marriage she was known as Lady Mabel Smith.

She was a local politician in South Yorkshire, firstly as a West Riding County Councillor and later as a county Alderman and member of the Workers' Educational Authority[5].

In 1918 she visited France as Inspector of Yorkshire's Women's Agricultural Auxiliary Corps [6].

She served on the Departmental Committee on Public Libraries which was appointed by the then President of the Board of Education Charles Trevelyan in 1924, reporting in June, 1927 [7] and was appointed a member of the Adult Education Committee set up by the then President of the Board of Education Eustace Percy in 1927 [8]. She served on the Labour Party National Executive Committee in 1932 [9] and 1934 [10].

She was a committed Christian and social worker[11]. She stated that her social conscience developed after seeing the conditions of children who lived on the Wentworth estate.[12]. Lady Mabel's niece, Joyce Smith, described her as a "rabid socialist" whose name was "absolutely taboo" at Wentworth Woodhouse[13].

From 1949 to 1974, Wentworth Woodhouse was changed into a College of Physical Education, for this period the college was named after Lady Mabel, as she had brokered the deal for its establishment, allowing the family to maintain private apartments[14]. The college trained female physical education teachers. The college later merged with Sheffield City Polytechnic and the name Wentworth Woodhouse was restored.[15][16]

[edit] References

  1. ^ Maltbyonline.co.uk
  2. ^ The Peerage.com
  3. ^ Bailey, C (2007). Black Diamonds: The Rise and Fall of an English Dynasty, p399. London: Penguin. ISBN 0-670-91542-2
  4. ^ Bailey, C (2007). Black Diamonds: The Rise and Fall of an English Dynasty, p400. London: Penguin. ISBN 0-670-91542-2
  5. ^ Bailey, C (2007). Black Diamonds: The Rise and Fall of an English Dynasty, p401. London: Penguin. ISBN 0-670-91542-2
  6. ^ Women in the Great War
  7. ^ Public Libraries. National Scheme Of Cooperation, Report Of Departmental Committee, The Times, June 15, 1927
  8. ^ Adult Education - Committee Reconstituted, The Times, November 16, 1927
  9. ^ The Tom Mann Case Deputation To Prime Minister, The Times, December 30, 1932
  10. ^ "T.U.C. and Labour Party "Going to the Country as one body", The Times, October 4, 1934
  11. ^ Rotherham Council website
  12. ^ Bailey, C (2007). Black Diamonds: The Rise and Fall of an English Dynasty, p400. London: Penguin. ISBN 0-670-91542-2
  13. ^ Bailey, C (2007). Black Diamonds: The Rise and Fall of an English Dynasty, p399. London: Penguin. ISBN 0-670-91542-2
  14. ^ Bailey, C (2007). Black Diamonds: The Rise and Fall of an English Dynasty, p401. London: Penguin. ISBN 0-670-91542-2
  15. ^ The Sunday Times Magazine, 11 February 2007, page 19
  16. ^ Solarnavigator.net