Alice Isaacs, Marchioness of Reading
Encyclopedia
Alice Edith Isaacs, Marchioness of Reading GBE
CI
(circa 1866 – 30 January 1930), née Alice Edith Cohen, was the first wife of Rufus Isaacs, 1st Marquess of Reading
and a prominent philanthropist in colonial India
.
The daughter of Albert Cohen, a merchant in the City of London
, she married Rufus Isaacs
, then a newly qualified barrister
, on 8 December 1887. Her title successively changed from Mrs Isaacs to Lady Isaacs on her husband's knighthood in 1910, Baroness Reading on his ennoblement in 1914, Viscountess Reading in 1916, the Countess of Reading in 1917, and finally the Marchioness of Reading in 1926.
In 1921, Lord Reading was appointed Viceroy of India. He was reluctant to accept, as his wife's health was delicate, but she persuaded him. She accompanied him to India and, despite continuing poor health, served prominently as Viceregal Consort. She also threw herself into charitable work, particularly with Indian women and children. She established the Women of India Fund in 1921 and National Baby Week in 1923, as well as supporting many existing charities. In 1926 she campaigned to construct a standard hospital in Peshawar, in place of Agerton Hospital. The new hospital was subsequently named as Lady Reading Hospital
. Later, on retirement of Lord Reading in 1926, she returned to England with her husband.
She was appointed Dame Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire
(GBE) in the 1920 civilian war honours and Companion of the Order of the Crown of India
(CI) in March 1921, the latter being a traditional honour for the Viceregal Consort. She was awarded the Kaiser-i-Hind Medal in gold in 1924.
Lady Reading died of cancer
in 1930.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
CI
Order of the Crown of India
The Imperial Order of the Crown of India is an order in the British honours system.The Order was established by Queen Victoria in 1878, when she became Empress of India. The Order is open only to women; no new appointments have been made after the Partition of India in 1947...
(circa 1866 – 30 January 1930), née Alice Edith Cohen, was the first wife of Rufus Isaacs, 1st Marquess of Reading
Rufus Isaacs, 1st Marquess of Reading
Rufus Isaacs, 1st Marquess of Reading, GCB, GCSI, GCIE, GCVO, PC, KC , was an English lawyer, jurist and politician...
and a prominent philanthropist in colonial India
British Raj
British Raj was the British rule in the Indian subcontinent between 1858 and 1947; The term can also refer to the period of dominion...
.
The daughter of Albert Cohen, a merchant in the City of London
City of London
The City of London is a small area within Greater London, England. It is the historic core of London around which the modern conurbation grew and has held city status since time immemorial. The City’s boundaries have remained almost unchanged since the Middle Ages, and it is now only a tiny part of...
, she married Rufus Isaacs
Rufus Isaacs
Rufus Isaacs may refer to:* Rufus Isaacs, 1st Marquess of Reading , English politician and jurist* Rufus Isaacs , US-American mathematician...
, then a newly qualified barrister
Barrister
A barrister is a member of one of the two classes of lawyer found in many common law jurisdictions with split legal professions. Barristers specialise in courtroom advocacy, drafting legal pleadings and giving expert legal opinions...
, on 8 December 1887. Her title successively changed from Mrs Isaacs to Lady Isaacs on her husband's knighthood in 1910, Baroness Reading on his ennoblement in 1914, Viscountess Reading in 1916, the Countess of Reading in 1917, and finally the Marchioness of Reading in 1926.
In 1921, Lord Reading was appointed Viceroy of India. He was reluctant to accept, as his wife's health was delicate, but she persuaded him. She accompanied him to India and, despite continuing poor health, served prominently as Viceregal Consort. She also threw herself into charitable work, particularly with Indian women and children. She established the Women of India Fund in 1921 and National Baby Week in 1923, as well as supporting many existing charities. In 1926 she campaigned to construct a standard hospital in Peshawar, in place of Agerton Hospital. The new hospital was subsequently named as Lady Reading Hospital
Lady Reading Hospital
The Lady Reading Hospital is located at Peshawar in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa of Pakistan. It is one of the most important Post Graduate Medical Institute in Pakistan. It is also called loye huspatal and Gernali Huspatal...
. Later, on retirement of Lord Reading in 1926, she returned to England with her husband.
She was appointed Dame Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(GBE) in the 1920 civilian war honours and Companion of the Order of the Crown of India
Order of the Crown of India
The Imperial Order of the Crown of India is an order in the British honours system.The Order was established by Queen Victoria in 1878, when she became Empress of India. The Order is open only to women; no new appointments have been made after the Partition of India in 1947...
(CI) in March 1921, the latter being a traditional honour for the Viceregal Consort. She was awarded the Kaiser-i-Hind Medal in gold in 1924.
Lady Reading died of cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
in 1930.