Emily Appleton ( Warren; May 10, 1818 – May 29, 1905) was an American philanthropist and

animal welfare Animal welfare is the well-being of non-human animals. Formal standards of animal welfare vary between contexts, but are debated mostly by animal welfare groups, legislators, and academics. Animal welfare science uses measures such as longevit ...

activist from

Boston Boston (), officially the City of Boston, is the capital city, state capital and List of municipalities in Massachusetts, most populous city of the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Massachusetts, as well as the cultural and financ ...

who provided financial support for the foundation of the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals in 1868. Appleton was already nurturing an American anti-

animal cruelty Cruelty to animals, also called animal abuse, animal neglect or animal cruelty, is the infliction by omission (neglect) or by commission by humans of suffering or harm upon non-human animals. More narrowly, it can be the causing of harm or su ...

movement when she saw a letter in the ''

Boston Daily Advertiser The ''Boston Daily Advertiser'' (est. 1813) was the first daily newspaper in Boston, and for many years the only daily paper in Boston. History The ''Advertiser'' was established in 1813, and in March 1814 it was purchased by journalist Nathan ...

'' from

George Thorndike Angell George Thorndike Angell (June 5, 1823March 16, 1909) was an American lawyer, philanthropist, and advocate for the humane treatment of animals. Biography He was born in Southbridge, Massachusetts, graduated from Dartmouth College in 1846, stu ...

protesting animal cruelty. Within a month, with Appleton's backing, Angell incorporated the society. Appleton, like fellow female activist

Caroline Earle White Caroline White ( Earle; 1833–1916) was an American philanthropist and anti-vivisection activist. She co-founded the Pennsylvania Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (PSPCA) in 1867, founded its women's branch (WPSPCA) in 1869, and f ...

(who was active in

Philadelphia Philadelphia, often called Philly, is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the sixth-largest city in the U.S., the second-largest city in both the Northeast megalopolis and Mid-Atlantic regions after New York City. Sinc ...

), was excluded from executive participation in the society she helped found. She was the daughter of noted surgeon

John Collins Warren John Collins Warren (August 1, 1778 – May 4, 1856) was an American surgeon. In 1846 he gave permission to William T.G. Morton to provide ether anesthesia while Warren performed a minor surgical procedure. News of this first public demonstratio ...

, who founded the ''

New England Journal of Medicine ''The New England Journal of Medicine'' (''NEJM'') is a weekly medical journal published by the Massachusetts Medical Society. It is among the most prestigious peer-reviewed medical journals as well as the oldest continuously published one. His ...

'', and his first wife, Susan Mason. She married William Appleton, son of politician William Appleton in 1845. They had one daughter, also named Emily. After her death in 1905, she left bequests to many charitable organizations, including a further bequest of $20,000 () to the MSPCA. She also left $10,000 to the Episcopal Church missionary society; $5,000 each to the Widows' Society of Boston, the Women's Union Missionary Society of America, the Kindergarten for the Blind in Massachusetts, the Episcopal City Mission of Boston and the Instructive District Nursing Association; and $2,000 to the Massachusetts Charitable Eye and Ear Infirmary.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Appleton, Emily 1818 births 1905 deaths American animal welfare workers People associated with the MSPCA-Angell People from Boston