Sidgwick, Eleonora Mildred (1845–1936)
Sidgwick, Eleonora Mildred (1845–1936)
Scottish suffragist and women's education campaigner. Name variations: Nora Sidgwick, Eleanor Mildred Balfour; Nora Balfour. Born Eleanor Mildred Balfour, Mar 11, 1845, in East Lothian, Scotland; died Feb 10, 1936 in England; sister of Arthur Balfour (British prime minister); m. Henry Sidgwick (professor, ethicist, proponent of women's education), 1870 (died 1900).
Married Henry Sidgwick, her brother's tutor from Cambridge, and through husband was drawn into the development of Newnham College, Cambridge, which was designed specifically for women; served as math teacher and principal of Newnham College (1892–1910); a major financial supporter of Newnham, campaigned to have women admitted to Cambridge on the same basis as men (through university examinations) and to have equal access to degrees, but failed in both efforts; was also interested in scientific analysis of occult, helping husband to found Society for Physical Research (1882) and conducting investigations; deplored tactics of militant suffragists, preferring moderate campaign tactics, but was a well-known speaker on women's rights and a formidable, if quiet, adversary when riled.
See also Ethel Sidgwick, Mrs Henry Sidgwick (Sigwick & Jackson, 1936).