Margaret Kidd
Encyclopedia
Dame Margaret Henderson Kidd QC
, married name Macdonald (14 March 1900, Bo'ness
- died 22 March 1989, Cambridge
) was a pioneering woman lawyer
, based in Edinburgh
, Scotland
.
She was the elder daughter of James Kidd
, solicitor
and Unionist MP
for Linlithgowshire
, and Janet Gardner Turnbull, a teacher.
She was educated at Linlithgow Academy
and graduated with an MA
and LLB
from the University of Edinburgh
in 1922. She was called in 1923 to the Faculty of Advocates
, the Scottish bar
, becoming its first female member, and its only one until 1948.
In 1928, on his death of her father, she contested his parliamentary seat, also as a Unionist, but was defeated by Emanuel Shinwell. In 1930 she married Donald Somerled MacDonald, by whom she had a daughter Anne.
She was the first lady advocate to appear before the House of Lords
and before a parliamentary select committee; and in 1948 became the first British woman King's Counsel
in Britain.
She was appointed Sheriff Principal
(the first woman to occupy this post) for Dumfries and Galloway
in 1960, and Sheriff Principal of Perth
and Angus
from 1966 to her retirement in 1975. She was also Editor
of the Court of Session law reports of the Scots Law Times
from 1942-1976.
Apart from her legal work she maintained an active public and charitable role. She was a founder member of the Stair Society
and a vice-president of the Federation of University Women
and the Electrical Association for Women. She also chaired the Queen's Nursing Institute
and Blind Welfare.
She was made a DBE
in 1975, and received an honorary LLD
from the University of Dundee
in 1982 and the University of Edinburgh in 1984.
She is recalled as a traditionalist and a Conservative, who nevertheless pioneered roles for women in the legal profession and could be radical in her criticisms of legal and political institutions. A eulogy
by Lord Hope of Craighead
concluded: "Her success was won by strength of character, courage and integrity and it is a mark of her true qualities that, despite what might seem to be the revolutionary nature of her achievements, she always held the affection and respect of others".
Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel , known as King's Counsel during the reign of a male sovereign, are lawyers appointed by letters patent to be one of Her [or His] Majesty's Counsel learned in the law...
, married name Macdonald (14 March 1900, Bo'ness
Bo'ness
Bo'ness, properly Borrowstounness, is a coastal town in the Central Lowlands of Scotland. It lies on a hillside on the south bank of the Firth of Forth within the Falkirk council area, north-west of Edinburgh and east of Falkirk. At the 2001 census, Bo'ness had a resident population of 13,961...
- died 22 March 1989, Cambridge
Cambridge
The city of Cambridge is a university town and the administrative centre of the county of Cambridgeshire, England. It lies in East Anglia about north of London. Cambridge is at the heart of the high-technology centre known as Silicon Fen – a play on Silicon Valley and the fens surrounding the...
) was a pioneering woman lawyer
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
, based in Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
.
She was the elder daughter of James Kidd
James Kidd
James Kidd was Unionist Party politician in Scotland. He sat in the House of Commons from 1918 to 1922, and from 1924 until his death....
, solicitor
Solicitor
Solicitors are lawyers who traditionally deal with any legal matter including conducting proceedings in courts. In the United Kingdom, a few Australian states and the Republic of Ireland, the legal profession is split between solicitors and barristers , and a lawyer will usually only hold one title...
and Unionist MP
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,...
for Linlithgowshire
Linlithgowshire (UK Parliament constituency)
Linlithgowshire was a county constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1708 to 1945. It elected one Member of Parliament by the first past the post voting system....
, and Janet Gardner Turnbull, a teacher.
She was educated at Linlithgow Academy
Linlithgow Academy
Linlithgow Academy is the only secondary school in Linlithgow, West Lothian. The Academy was founded in 1894 and replaced an earlier kirk institution known as "Sang Schule"...
and graduated with an MA
Master of Arts (Scotland)
A Master of Arts in Scotland can refer to an undergraduate academic degree in humanities and social sciences awarded by the ancient universities of Scotland – the University of St Andrews, the University of Glasgow, the University of Aberdeen and the University of Edinburgh, while the University of...
and LLB
Bachelor of Laws
The Bachelor of Laws is an undergraduate, or bachelor, degree in law originating in England and offered in most common law countries as the primary law degree...
from the University of Edinburgh
University of Edinburgh
The University of Edinburgh, founded in 1583, is a public research university located in Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The university is deeply embedded in the fabric of the city, with many of the buildings in the historic Old Town belonging to the university...
in 1922. She was called in 1923 to the Faculty of Advocates
Faculty of Advocates
The Faculty of Advocates is an independent body of lawyers who have been admitted to practise as advocates before the courts of Scotland, especially the Court of Session and the High Court of Justiciary...
, the Scottish bar
Bar association
A bar association is a professional body of lawyers. Some bar associations are responsible for the regulation of the legal profession in their jurisdiction; others are professional organizations dedicated to serving their members; in many cases, they are both...
, becoming its first female member, and its only one until 1948.
In 1928, on his death of her father, she contested his parliamentary seat, also as a Unionist, but was defeated by Emanuel Shinwell. In 1930 she married Donald Somerled MacDonald, by whom she had a daughter Anne.
She was the first lady advocate to appear before the House of Lords
House of Lords
The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster....
and before a parliamentary select committee; and in 1948 became the first British woman King's Counsel
Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel , known as King's Counsel during the reign of a male sovereign, are lawyers appointed by letters patent to be one of Her [or His] Majesty's Counsel learned in the law...
in Britain.
She was appointed Sheriff Principal
Sheriff Principal
The office of sheriff principal is unique within the judicial structure of Scotland, and it cannot therefore readily be compared with any other judicial office. It is one of great antiquity, having existed continuously since around the 11th century...
(the first woman to occupy this post) for Dumfries and Galloway
Dumfries and Galloway
Dumfries and Galloway is one of 32 unitary council areas of Scotland. It was one of the nine administrative 'regions' of mainland Scotland created in 1975 by the Local Government etc. Act 1973...
in 1960, and Sheriff Principal of Perth
Perth, Scotland
Perth is a town and former city and royal burgh in central Scotland. Located on the banks of the River Tay, it is the administrative centre of Perth and Kinross council area and the historic county town of Perthshire...
and Angus
Angus
Angus is one of the 32 local government council areas of Scotland, a registration county and a lieutenancy area. The council area borders Aberdeenshire, Perth and Kinross and Dundee City...
from 1966 to her retirement in 1975. She was also Editor
Editing
Editing is the process of selecting and preparing written, visual, audible, and film media used to convey information through the processes of correction, condensation, organization, and other modifications performed with an intention of producing a correct, consistent, accurate, and complete...
of the Court of Session law reports of the Scots Law Times
Scots Law Times
The Scots Law Times is the law reports service in Scotland, publishing over 1400 pages of reports each year. Published weekly during court term, the Scots Law Times covers every Scottish court, civil and criminal, from the Sheriff Courts to the House of Lords.Since 2000, the Scots Law Times...
from 1942-1976.
Apart from her legal work she maintained an active public and charitable role. She was a founder member of the Stair Society
Stair Society
The Stair Society is a learned society devoted to the study of Scots law. It was instituted in 1934 "to encourage the study and to advance the knowledge of the history of Scots Law," and is named for James Dalrymple, 1st Viscount of Stair, the seventeenth century Lord President of the Court of...
and a vice-president of the Federation of University Women
International Federation of University Women
International Federation of University Women is an international organization that was founded in 1919 to promote women's education.The organization was founded by Virginia Gildersleeve, Caroline Spurgeon and Rose Sidgwick....
and the Electrical Association for Women. She also chaired the Queen's Nursing Institute
Queen's Nursing Institute
The Queen’s Nursing Institute is a charity that works to improve the nursing care of people in their own homes in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.-History:...
and Blind Welfare.
She was made a DBE
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...
in 1975, and received an honorary LLD
Legum Doctor
Legum Doctor is a doctorate-level academic degree in law, or an honorary doctorate, depending on the jurisdiction. The double L in the abbreviation refers to the early practice in the University of Cambridge to teach both Canon Law and Civil Law, the double L indicating the plural, Doctor of both...
from the University of Dundee
University of Dundee
The University of Dundee is a university based in the city and Royal burgh of Dundee on eastern coast of the central Lowlands of Scotland and with a small number of institutions elsewhere....
in 1982 and the University of Edinburgh in 1984.
She is recalled as a traditionalist and a Conservative, who nevertheless pioneered roles for women in the legal profession and could be radical in her criticisms of legal and political institutions. A eulogy
Eulogy
A eulogy is a speech or writing in praise of a person or thing, especially one recently deceased or retired. Eulogies may be given as part of funeral services. However, some denominations either discourage or do not permit eulogies at services to maintain respect for traditions...
by Lord Hope of Craighead
David Hope, Baron Hope of Craighead
James Arthur David Hope, Baron Hope of Craighead, is a Scottish judge and Deputy President of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom, having previously been the Second Senior Lord of Appeal in Ordinary.-Early life:...
concluded: "Her success was won by strength of character, courage and integrity and it is a mark of her true qualities that, despite what might seem to be the revolutionary nature of her achievements, she always held the affection and respect of others".