Mary Stocks
Encyclopedia
Mary Danvers Stocks, Baroness Stocks (25 July 1891-6 July 1975) née Brinton, was a British writer
. She was the daughter of a London
Doctor
. She was closely associated with the Strachey
, the Wedgwood
and the Ricardo
families. Her family was deeply involved in changes in the Victorian Era
and Stocks herself was deepingly involved in Women's Suffrage
, the Welfare State
, London School of Economics
and other aspects of social work
She attended St. Paul's Girls School and earned a degree in Economic in 1913 from London School of Economics
.
She married the philosopher John Leofric Stocks, son of The Venerable J.E Stocks, Archdeacon of Leicester, and Emily Jane, daughter of Thomas Mallam of Oxford, in 1913 with who she had one son and two daughters. During the First World War, Mary Stocks taught at the LSE and King's College, London. After the war, she went to Oxford with her husband and taught economic history at Somerville College and Lady Margaret Hall.
After her husband died in 1937, Stocks moved back to London. In 1939, she became Principal of Westfield College
where she remained until 1951
In 1945 Stocks contested the London University
seat at the General Election as an Independent Progressive. Her opponent was the sitting MP who stood as an Independent supporter of the Churchill government. She came within 149 votes of winning.
In 1946 Stocks contested the Combined English Universities
by-election as an Independent candidate. The by-election was caused by the death of Eleanor Rathbone
(whose biography Stocks wrote). She was the runner-up amongst five candidates.
. She eventually retired to the House of Lords
, having been created a life peer as Lady Stocks, on 17 January 1966; and wrote her autobiogarphy' Mary Stocks was commissioned to write a book on the 50th Anniversary of the WEA (Workers Educational Association) which was founded in 1903.
She received several honorary doctorates, from Manchester in 1955, from Liverpool in 1956 and from Leeds in 1957.
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
. She was the daughter of a London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
Doctor
Physician
A physician is a health care provider who practices the profession of medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring human health through the study, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, injury and other physical and mental impairments...
. She was closely associated with the Strachey
Strachey
-Strachey family of Sutton Court, Somerset:*John Strachey , friend of John Locke**John Strachey , British geologist, son of the above...
, the Wedgwood
Wedgwood
Wedgwood, strictly speaking Josiah Wedgwood and Sons, is a pottery firm owned by KPS Capital Partners, a private equity company based in New York City, USA. Wedgwood was founded on May 1, 1759 by Josiah Wedgwood and in 1987 merged with Waterford Crystal to create Waterford Wedgwood, an...
and the Ricardo
Ricardo
Ricardo is the Portuguese and Spanish cognate of the name Richard. Therefore the name means "Brave Ruler".-People with the first name Ricardo:*Ricardo Arona, Brazilian mixed martial artist*Ricardo de Araújo Pereira, Portuguese comedian...
families. Her family was deeply involved in changes in the Victorian Era
Era
An era is a commonly used word for long period of time. When used in science, for example geology, eras denote clearly defined periods of time of arbitrary but well defined length, such as for example the Mesozoic era from 252 Ma–66 Ma, delimited by a start event and an end event. When used in...
and Stocks herself was deepingly involved in Women's Suffrage
Women's suffrage
Women's suffrage or woman suffrage is the right of women to vote and to run for office. The expression is also used for the economic and political reform movement aimed at extending these rights to women and without any restrictions or qualifications such as property ownership, payment of tax, or...
, the Welfare State
Welfare State
The Welfare State is a commitment to health, education, employment and social security in the United Kingdom.-Background:The United Kingdom, as a welfare state, was prefigured in the William Beveridge Report in 1942, which identified five "Giant Evils" in society: squalor, ignorance, want, idleness...
, London School of Economics
London School of Economics
The London School of Economics and Political Science is a public research university specialised in the social sciences located in London, United Kingdom, and a constituent college of the federal University of London...
and other aspects of social work
She attended St. Paul's Girls School and earned a degree in Economic in 1913 from London School of Economics
London School of Economics
The London School of Economics and Political Science is a public research university specialised in the social sciences located in London, United Kingdom, and a constituent college of the federal University of London...
.
She married the philosopher John Leofric Stocks, son of The Venerable J.E Stocks, Archdeacon of Leicester, and Emily Jane, daughter of Thomas Mallam of Oxford, in 1913 with who she had one son and two daughters. During the First World War, Mary Stocks taught at the LSE and King's College, London. After the war, she went to Oxford with her husband and taught economic history at Somerville College and Lady Margaret Hall.
After her husband died in 1937, Stocks moved back to London. In 1939, she became Principal of Westfield College
Westfield College
Westfield College was a small college situated in Kidderpore Avenue, Hampstead, London, and was a constituent college of the University of London from 1882 to 1989. The college originally admitted only women as students and became coeducational in 1964. In 1989, Westfield College merged with Queen...
where she remained until 1951
In 1945 Stocks contested the London University
London University (UK Parliament constituency)
London University was a university constituency electing one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, from 1868 to 1950.-Boundaries, electorate and history:...
seat at the General Election as an Independent Progressive. Her opponent was the sitting MP who stood as an Independent supporter of the Churchill government. She came within 149 votes of winning.
In 1946 Stocks contested the Combined English Universities
Combined English Universities (UK Parliament constituency)
Combined English Universities was a university constituency represented in the United Kingdom Parliament . It was formed by enfranchising and combining all the English Universities, except for Cambridge, Oxford and London, which were already separately represented.-Boundaries:This University...
by-election as an Independent candidate. The by-election was caused by the death of Eleanor Rathbone
Eleanor Rathbone
Eleanor Florence Rathbone was an independent British Member of Parliament and long-term campaigner for women's rights. She was a member of the noted Rathbone family of Liverpool.-Life:...
(whose biography Stocks wrote). She was the runner-up amongst five candidates.
Later life
Stocks became a radio broadcasterPresenter
A presenter, or host , is a person or organization responsible for running an event. A museum or university, for example, may be the presenter or host of an exhibit. Likewise, a master of ceremonies is a person that hosts or presents a show...
. She eventually retired to 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....
, having been created a life peer as Lady Stocks, on 17 January 1966; and wrote her autobiogarphy' Mary Stocks was commissioned to write a book on the 50th Anniversary of the WEA (Workers Educational Association) which was founded in 1903.
She received several honorary doctorates, from Manchester in 1955, from Liverpool in 1956 and from Leeds in 1957.