Swainson, Mary Anne (c. 1833–1897)

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Swainson, Mary Anne (c. 1833–1897)

New Zealand teacher and headmistress. Name variations: Mary Anne Arrowsmith. Born Mary Anne Arrowsmith, c. 1833 (baptized on July 19, 1833, in Westmoreland, England); died Aug 3, 1897, at Thorndon, Wellington, New Zealand; dau. of Henry Abel Arrowsmith (schoolmaster) and Isabella (Parkin) Arrowsmith; m. George Frederick Swainson (surveyor), 1859 (died 1870); children: 2 sons, 3 daughters.

Immigrated to New Zealand (1856); opened girls' school, The Terrace, in Thorndon (1869); established successful boarding school, Fitzherbert Terrace School (1878); less involved in teaching toward end of her life, remained head-mistress until her death.

See also Dictionary of New Zealand Biography (Vol. 2).