Leonora Philipps (4 November 1862 – 30 March 1915), sometimes known as Nora Philipps, 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 ...

feminist Feminism is a range of socio-political movements and ideology, ideologies that aim to define and establish the political, economic, personal, and social gender equality, equality of the sexes. Feminism holds the position that modern soci ...

activist. Born in

Camberwell Camberwell ( ) is an List of areas of London, area of South London, England, in the London Borough of Southwark, southeast of Charing Cross. Camberwell was first a village associated with the church of St Giles' Church, Camberwell, St Giles ...

, then in

Surrey Surrey () is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in South East England. It is bordered by Greater London to the northeast, Kent to the east, East Sussex, East and West Sussex to the south, and Hampshire and Berkshire to the wes ...

, as Leonora Gerstenberg, her family were Jewish and her father was wealthy. She was orphaned at the age of fourteen, becoming a ward of chancery. She performed strongly at school, then attended Birkbeck University College and the

Slade School of Art The UCL Slade School of Fine Art (informally The Slade) is the art school of University College London (UCL) and is based in London, England. It has been ranked as the UK's top art and design educational institution. The school is organised as ...

, where she completed a course in metalwork. She also attended the

Royal Academy of Dramatic Art The Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, also known by its abbreviation RADA (), is a drama school in London, England, which provides vocational conservatoire training for theatre, film, television, and radio. It is based in Bloomsbury, Central London ...

, and was tutored privately in drama by

Isabella Glyn Isabella Glyn (22 May 1823 – 18 May 1889) was a well-known Victorian-era Shakespearean actress. Influenced by the ideas of

John Stuart Mill John Stuart Mill (20 May 1806 – 7 May 1873) was an English philosopher, political economist, politician and civil servant. One of the most influential thinkers in the history of liberalism and social liberalism, he contributed widely to s ...

, trips to the East End of London and to the

United States The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...

, Gerstenberg became interested in feminism and issues around poverty. She became active in the

Women's Liberal Federation The Women's Liberal Federation was an organisation that was part of the Liberal Party in the United Kingdom. History The Women's Liberal Federation (WLF) was formed on the initiative of Sophia Fry, who in 1886 called a meeting at her house of f ...

(WLF), and soon became president of the Westminster Women's Liberal Association. Her inheritance had grown through investment, and by the late 1880s, amounted to around £100,000. In 1888, Gerstenberg married John Wynford Philipps, who had just won the Mid Lanarkshire by-election for the

Liberal Party The Liberal Party is any of many political parties around the world. The meaning of ''liberal'' varies around the world, ranging from liberal conservatism on the right to social liberalism on the left. For example, while the political systems ...

. Philipps became a vice-president of the Scottish Women's Liberal Federation, and in 1891 wrote a widely-circulated pamphlet, ''An Appeal to Women''. In this, she argued that women should become active in public service. She also lectured on a number of topics, including temperance, the unionisation of shop assistants and free education. In 1891, the WLF split over attitudes to women's suffrage, and Philipps was a vocal support of the majority, pro-suffrage view. In 1892, she was elected as president of the Welsh Union of Women's Liberal Associations, and was a co-founder of the Pioneer Club in London. She was also an early member of the Somerville Club, and a founder in 1897 of the Women's Institute at Grosvenor Crescent. John became a Member of Parliament for

Pembrokeshire Pembrokeshire ( ; ) is a Principal areas of Wales, county in the South West Wales, south-west of Wales. It is bordered by Carmarthenshire to the east, Ceredigion to the northeast, and otherwise by the sea. Haverfordwest is the largest town and ...

in 1898, and the couple moved to

Roch Castle Roch Castle () is a 12th-century castle, located at Roch near Haverfordwest, Wales. Built by Norman knight Adam de Rupe in the second half of the 12th century, probably on the site of an earlier wooden structure. ''Roche'' is the usual French ...

, in the constituency. In 1908, he became a baron, and Nora accordingly became Lady St Davids. When a national pageant was held in Cardiff in 1909, Nora was one of the main organisers, and in 1913 she presided over a concert at the

Abergavenny Abergavenny (; , , archaically , ) is a market town and Community (Wales), community in Monmouthshire, Wales. Abergavenny is promoted as a "Gateway to Wales"; it is approximately from the England–Wales border, border with England and is loca ...

Eisteddfod In Welsh culture, an ''eisteddfod'' is an institution and festival with several ranked competitions, including in poetry and music. The term ''eisteddfod'', which is formed from the Welsh morphemes: , meaning 'sit', and , meaning 'be', means, a ...

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Philipps, Leonora 1862 births 1915 deaths Alumni of Birkbeck, University of London Alumni of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art Alumni of the Slade School of Fine Art Saint Davids English feminists People from Camberwell