14 Facts About Frances Lupton

Frances Elizabeth Lupton was an Englishwoman of the Victorian era who worked to open up educational opportunities for women.

Frances Lupton married into the politically active Lupton family of Leeds, where she co-founded Leeds Girls' High School in 1876 and was the Leeds representative of the North of England Council for Promoting the Higher Education of Women.

Frances Lupton worked at Newcastle Infirmary, renamed the Royal Victoria Infirmary, for many years and was instrumental in its expansion in the 1850s.

Frances Lupton's mother, Elizabeth, was born into the Martineau family, an intellectual, business, and political dynasty.

Frances Lupton joined the Indian Medical Service and spent his career in British India, rising to surgeon major.

Frances Lupton was educated at her aunt Rachel Martineau's school and remained close to Rachel's sister Harriet in adulthood.

In 1847 Frances married Francis Lupton, a member of a prosperous and politically active cloth manufacturing family in Leeds.

Frances Lupton was an anti-slavery campaigner and a Liberal who sat on the executive of the National Reform Union.

Frances Lupton sat on the committee for the National Society for Women's Suffrage.

Frances Lupton co-founded the Leeds Education Society, a precursor to the National Education League.

Francis and Frances Lupton lived just outside the rapidly industrialising city at Potternewton Hall, later moving to Beechwood, a Georgian country house in Roundhay.

In 1871 Frances Lupton became Honorary Secretary to the Ladies' Honorary Council of the Yorkshire Board of Education, which was just six years old.

Frances Lupton was "the powerful driving force of the organization" and that of the Leeds Ladies' Educational Association.

Frances Lupton died at home at Beechwood on 9 March 1892 and is buried at St John's Church in Roundhay.