14 Facts About Margaret Sievwright

Margaret Home Sievwright was a New Zealand feminist, political activist and community leader.

Margaret Sievwright was particularly active in the temperance and suffrage movements, and became president of the National Council of Women of New Zealand.

Margaret Home Sievwright was born in Pencaitland, East Lothian in 1844 to John Richardson, an estate factor, and Jane Law Home.

Margaret Sievwright left teaching and trained as a nurse under the Florence Nightingale system.

In 1878, Sievwright emigrated to Dunedin, New Zealand, initially staying with her brother-in-law.

In Gisborne, Margaret Sievwright was active in the temperance and women's suffrage movements, with a particular interest in women's economic independence within marriage.

Margaret Sievwright wrote extensively for women's political journals and was an active member in various women's organisations.

Margaret Sievwright was the leader of the Gisborne branch of the Women's Christian Temperance Union New Zealand, which was active in advocacy on women's issues generally and was a major force in the women's suffrage movement.

Margaret Sievwright attended the first meeting of the National Council of Women of New Zealand in Christchurch as a representative for the Gisborne Women's Political League at which she was elected one of four vice-presidents.

Margaret Sievwright held the office of president of the National Council of Women of New Zealand from 1901 to 1904.

Margaret Sievwright campaigned for disarmament and peace, promoting a pacifist position during the Boer War.

Margaret Sievwright fell ill in 1905, and passed away 9 March 1905 in Gisborne.

Margaret Sievwright is buried in a family plot at Makaraka cemetery.

Colleagues of Margaret Sievwright erected a drinking fountain in Gisborne, on Peel Street near the Gladstone Road intersection.