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

animal welfare Animal welfare is the quality of life and overall well-being of 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 ...

activist from

Boston Boston is the capital and most populous city in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Massachusetts in the United States. The city serves as the cultural and Financial centre, financial center of New England, a region of the Northeas ...

who provided financial support for the foundation of the

Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals The Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals-Angell Animal Medical Center (MSPCA-Angell) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization with its main headquarters on South Huntington Avenue in the Jamaica Plain neighborhood of Bo ...

in 1868. Appleton was already nurturing an

American American(s) may refer to: * American, something of, from, or related to the United States of America, commonly known as the "United States" or "America" ** Americans, citizens and nationals of the United States of America ** American ancestry, p ...

anti-

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

movement when she saw a letter in the ''

Boston Daily Advertiser The ''Boston Daily Advertiser'' (est. March 1813) was the first daily newspaper in Boston, and for many years the only daily paper in Boston. History The ''Advertiser'' was established in early March 1813. It was published by William W. Clapp ...

'' from George Thorndike Angell 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 ...

(who was active in

Philadelphia Philadelphia ( ), colloquially referred to as Philly, is the List of municipalities in Pennsylvania, most populous city in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania and the List of United States cities by population, sixth-most populous city in the Unit ...

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

John Collins Warren John Warren may refer to: Entertainment * John F. Warren (1909–2000), American cinematographer * John Warren (actor) (1916–1977), British screenwriter and actor * John Warren (musician) (born 1938), Canadian baritone saxophonist and compos ...

, 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. Founded in 1812, the journal is among the most prestigious peer-reviewed medical journals. Its 2023 impact factor was ...

'', 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 The Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals-Angell Animal Medical Center (MSPCA-Angell) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization with its main headquarters on South Huntington Avenue in the Jamaica Plain neighborhood of Bo ...

. 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 Activists from Boston