Charlotte Stopes

Charlotte Carmichael (1841-1929) was the daughter of the Scottish artist J.F. Carmichael. She studied at Edinburgh University but although she took the same examinations as the male students, was not actually allowed to attend the lectures. On account of her sex, she was eventually awarded a certificate, rather than a degree--the first Scottish woman to achieve this. Despite these setbacks Charlotte, who was a strict calvinist, continued with academic research and became an expert on Shakespeare and other sixteenth century literature. Her experiences at university turned her into a passionate feminist and she became actively involved in the women's suffrage campaign.

Charlotte married Henry Stopes, a brewing engineer, and their daughter Marie was born in 1880. Marie shared her father's scientific interests and her mother's political beliefs and went on to become one of Britain's most acclaimed feminists.