Emily Appleton was a Boston

Boston

Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...

 socialite

Socialite

A socialite is a person who participates in social activities and spends a significant amount of time entertaining and being entertained at fashionable upper-class events....

 and animal lover who provided financial support for the foundation of the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals

MSPCA-Angell

The Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals-Angell Animal Medical Center is a 501 non-profit organization with its main headquarters on South Huntington Avenue in the Jamaica Plain neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts. It was founded in 1868 and is the second-oldest...

 in 1868. Appleton was already nurturing an American

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

 anti-animal cruelty movement when she saw a letter in the Boston Daily Advertiser

Boston Daily Advertiser

The Boston Daily Advertiser was the first daily newspaper in Boston, and for many years the only daily paper in Boston.-History:...

 from George Thorndike Angell

George Thorndike Angell

George Thorndike Angell was an American lawyer, philanthropist, and advocate for the humane treatment of animals....

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

Caroline Earle White

Caroline Earle White was a 19th century philanthropist and advocate. She was an active clubwoman, and was involved in organizations that focused on various matters such as; helping the poor obtain medical services, literary societies, and women’s suffrage. Mrs. White is prominently known for her...

 (who was active in Philadelphia), was excluded from executive participation in the society she helped found.