Smieton, Mary (1902–2005)

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Smieton, Mary (1902–2005)

English civil servant. Name variations: Dame Mary Smieton. Born Mary Guillan SmietonDec 5, 1902, in Cambridge, England; died Jan 23, 2005, in England; dau. of librarian and bursar of Westminster College, Cambridge; graduate of Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford; never married.

Only the 2nd woman to head a government department, was appointed permanent secretary in the Ministry of Education (1959), serving until 1963; was also UK representative on the board of UNESCO. Named DBE (1949).