Ethel Bentham
Encyclopedia
Dr. Ethel Bentham was a progressive doctor, a politician and a suffragette
in the United Kingdom
. She was born in Ireland, educated at Alexandra School and College in Dublin, the London School of Medicine for Women and the Rotunda Hospital. She never married.
Bentham worked as a General Practitioner
(GP) in London, was an expert on childhood enuresis (bedwetting
) and an early believer in what would now be called socialised medicine.
She was a member of the Women's Labour League from 1913, a member of the Labour Party
, was active in municipal government as a councillor on Kensington Borough Council for 13 years and was one of the first women Justices of the Peace
.
She stood as the Labour Party candidate for Islington East
in the General Elections of 1922, 1923 and 1924. As a senior woman in the Labour Party, she was also a member of the National Executive Committee
(NEC) from 1918–1920, 1922–1926 and 1928–1931.
Bentham was finally successful in the 1929 general election
, becoming at 68 years of age the oldest woman to be elected as Member of Parliament
and she was the 15th ever woman to be elected in Britain. This coincided with the election of the second ever Labour Government headed by Ramsay MacDonald
.
She died on 19 January 1931, just past her 70th birthday, triggering a by-election that spring in which the Labour candidate, Leah Manning
, was elected to succeed her.
Suffragette
"Suffragette" is a term coined by the Daily Mail newspaper as a derogatory label for members of the late 19th and early 20th century movement for women's suffrage in the United Kingdom, in particular members of the Women's Social and Political Union...
in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. She was born in Ireland, educated at Alexandra School and College in Dublin, the London School of Medicine for Women and the Rotunda Hospital. She never married.
Bentham worked as a General Practitioner
General practitioner
A general practitioner is a medical practitioner who treats acute and chronic illnesses and provides preventive care and health education for all ages and both sexes. They have particular skills in treating people with multiple health issues and comorbidities...
(GP) in London, was an expert on childhood enuresis (bedwetting
Bedwetting
Nocturnal enuresis, commonly called bedwetting, is involuntary urination while asleep after the age at which bladder control usually occurs. Nocturnal enuresis is considered primary when a child has not yet had a prolonged period of being dry...
) and an early believer in what would now be called socialised medicine.
She was a member of the Women's Labour League from 1913, a member of the Labour Party
Labour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
, was active in municipal government as a councillor on Kensington Borough Council for 13 years and was one of the first women Justices of the Peace
Justice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
.
She stood as the Labour Party candidate for Islington East
Islington East (UK Parliament constituency)
Islington East was a constituency which returned one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1885, until it was abolished for the February 1974 general election.-1885–1918:...
in the General Elections of 1922, 1923 and 1924. As a senior woman in the Labour Party, she was also a member of the National Executive Committee
National Executive Committee
The National Executive Committee or NEC is the chief administrative body of the UK Labour Party. Its composition has changed over the years, and includes representatives of affiliated trade unions, the Parliamentary Labour Party and European Parliamentary Labour Party, Constituency Labour Parties,...
(NEC) from 1918–1920, 1922–1926 and 1928–1931.
Bentham was finally successful in the 1929 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1929
-Seats summary:-References:*F. W. S. Craig, British Electoral Facts: 1832-1987*-External links:***...
, becoming at 68 years of age the oldest woman to be elected as Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
and she was the 15th ever woman to be elected in Britain. This coincided with the election of the second ever Labour Government headed by Ramsay MacDonald
Ramsay MacDonald
James Ramsay MacDonald, PC, FRS was a British politician who was the first ever Labour Prime Minister, leading a minority government for two terms....
.
She died on 19 January 1931, just past her 70th birthday, triggering a by-election that spring in which the Labour candidate, Leah Manning
Leah Manning
Dame Elizabeth Leah Manning DBE was a British educationalist, social reformer, and Labour Member of Parliament in the 1930s and 1940s...
, was elected to succeed her.