Mary Estlin
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Mary Anne Estlin (31 July 1820 – 14 November 1902) was a
British British may refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * British people, nationals or natives of the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies. * British national identity, the characteristics of British people and culture ...
abolitionist Abolitionism, or the abolitionist movement, is the political movement to end slavery and liberate enslaved individuals around the world. The first country to fully outlaw slavery was Kingdom of France, France in 1315, but it was later used ...
and leading figure in anti-slavery and anti-prostitution campaigns in Britain.


Life

Mary Anne Estlin was the daughter of
John Bishop Estlin John Bishop Estlin (26 December 1785 – 10 June 1855) was an English ophthalmic surgeon. Life Estlin was the son of the Unitarianism, Unitarian minister John Prior Estlin, who kept a well-known school in a large house at the top of St. Michael' ...
, a leading
ophthalmologist Ophthalmology (, ) is the branch of medicine that deals with the diagnosis, treatment, and surgery of eye diseases and disorders. An ophthalmologist is a physician who undergoes subspecialty training in medical and surgical eye care. Following a ...
in
Bristol Bristol () is a City status in the United Kingdom, cathedral city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, the most populous city in the region. Built around the River Avon, Bristol, River Avon, it is bordered by t ...
and his wife Margaret née Bagehot. Her mother died when she was a small child, and she took her father's religion as well as his opposition to
slavery Slavery is the ownership of a person as property, especially in regards to their labour. Slavery typically involves compulsory work, with the slave's location of work and residence dictated by the party that holds them in bondage. Enslavemen ...
. Estlin lived in the family home and never married. In 1832 she followed her father to the
West Indies The West Indies is an island subregion of the Americas, surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean, North Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea, which comprises 13 independent island country, island countries and 19 dependent territory, dependencies in thr ...
where she saw the colonial slave system. From 1851 she led the Bristol and Clifton Ladies Anti-Slavery Society. She and
Eliza Wigham Eliza Wigham (23 February 1820 – 3 November 1899), born Elizabeth Wigham, was a Scottish campaigner for women's suffrage, anti-slavery, peace and temperance in Edinburgh, Scotland. She was involved in several major campaigns to improve women ...
were active in the campaign in England and in 1863 they both served on
Clementia Taylor Clementia Taylor (née Doughty; 17 December 1810 – 11 April 1908) was an English women's rights activist and radical.''ODNB''. Life Clementia (known as Mentia to her friends) was born in Brockdish, Norfolk, one of twelve children. Her family ...
's Ladies' London Emancipation Society. In 1854
Parker Pillsbury Parker Pillsbury (September 22, 1809 – July 7, 1898) was an American minister and advocate for abolition and women's rights. Life Pillsbury was born in Hamilton, Massachusetts. He moved to Henniker, New Hampshire where he later farmed and wo ...
came to Britain to discuss the differing politics of the American and British abolitionists. Estlin and her father became involved in Pillsbury's problematic correspondence with the British activist Louis Chamerovzow, the secretary of the
British and Foreign Anti-Slavery Society British may refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * British people, nationals or natives of the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies. * British national identity, the characteristics of British people and cultur ...
. Estlin arranged for the letters to be made public. In 1867 she helped establish the Bristol Women's Suffrage Society in which she acted as a treasurer. In 1868 she travelled to America, where she met other leading activists including
Lucretia Mott Lucretia Mott (née Coffin; January 3, 1793 – November 11, 1880) was an American Quakers, Quaker, Abolitionism in the United States, abolitionist, women's rights activist, and social reformer. She had formed the idea of reforming the position ...
and Susan B. Anthony. During 1870-1886 she was a member of the executive committee of the Ladies' National Association. This organization co-ordinated the feminist campaign for the repeal of the Contagious Diseases Acts. There was a schism within the abolitionists between the radical views of
William Lloyd Garrison William Lloyd Garrison (December , 1805 – May 24, 1879) was an Abolitionism in the United States, American abolitionist, journalist, and reformism (historical), social reformer. He is best known for his widely read anti-slavery newspaper ''The ...
and the more conservative position of the British and Foreign Anti-Slavery Society, who was content to see a gradual end to slavery.
Eliza Wigham Eliza Wigham (23 February 1820 – 3 November 1899), born Elizabeth Wigham, was a Scottish campaigner for women's suffrage, anti-slavery, peace and temperance in Edinburgh, Scotland. She was involved in several major campaigns to improve women ...
and
Jane Smeal Jane Wigham (née Smeal; 1801–1888) was a leading Scottish abolitionist, and was the secretary of the Glasgow Ladies' Emancipation Society. Life Smeal was born in Glasgow in 1801, the sister of William Smeal. She was educated as a Quaker a ...
of the
Edinburgh Ladies' Emancipation Society The Edinburgh Ladies' Emancipation Society was a leading Abolitionism, abolitionist group based in Edinburgh, Scotland, in the nineteenth century. The women associated with the organisation are considered "heroines" and the impact of these aboli ...
supported Estlin's initiative to find common ground between the Garrisonians and the BFASS. Estlin was among the signatories of a supportive letter sent to the first meeting of the
International Council of Women The International Council of Women (ICW) is a women's organization working across national boundaries for the common cause of advocating women's rights, human rights for women. In March and April 1888, women leaders came together in Washington D.C ...
, which was held in 1888 in America. Other signers included Margaret Tanner, Helen Priestman Bright Clark,
Emily Sturge Emily Sturge (20 April 1847 – 3 June 1892) was a British campaigner for women's education. She was secretary of the west of England branch of the National Society for Women's Suffrage. Life Sturge was born in 1847 in Highbury Villa, Cotham R ...
, Maria Colby and Louisa Swann, all under the title "In the Fellowship of Womanhood." Mary Anne Estelin died aged 82 on 14 November 1902 in her residence, 36 Upper Belgrave Road, Clifton, Bristol.


References


External links

* *
Correspondence to and from Mary Anne Estlin
held in the Anti-Slavery Collection at
Boston Public Library The Boston Public Library is a municipal public library system in Boston, Massachusetts, founded in 1848. The Boston Public Library is also Massachusetts' Library for the Commonwealth (formerly ''library of last recourse''), meaning all adult re ...
{{DEFAULTSORT:Estlin, Mary 1820 births 1902 deaths Politicians from Bristol British abolitionists Anti-prostitution activists English women activists