Helen Gladstone

Helen Gladstone (28 August 1849 – 19 August 1925) was a British educationist known for her roles as vice-principal at Newnham College in Cambridge and as a co-founder of the Women's University Settlement.

**Early Life and Family Background**

Helen Gladstone was born in London on 28 August 1849. She was the sixth of eight children of Catherine (née Glynne) and William Ewart Gladstone, who later served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. Her family was prominent within the Liberal political sphere.

**Education**

Her educational pursuits gained public attention when her sister, Mary Gladstone, suggested that Helen become one of the first students at Newnham College, Cambridge. In 1877, at the age of 28, Helen enrolled as one of 25 students at Newnham. She chose not to take the tripos examinations but did pass the higher examination in her studies.

**Career in Education and Public Service**

Following her studies, Gladstone became the assistant to Anne Clough, the first principal of Newnham College and an early supporter of women's suffrage. She later succeeded Nora Sidgwick as vice-principal of Newnham College in 1892. During her tenure at Newnham, she was recognized for her pleasant disposition and practical judgment, often sharing anecdotes involving her father.

In 1886, Gladstone was approached to become the first principal of Royal Holloway College but declined, suspecting that the offer was based on her family name rather than her merits.

During the 1890s, Helen and her sisters took turns caring for their aging parents. In 1896, she resigned from her vice-principal position to return to her family home to care for her parents, both of whom had died by 1900.

**Involvement in Social Reform and the Settlement Movement**

Inspired by Henrietta Barnett and Toynbee Hall, founded in 1884, Gladstone was involved in the establishment of the Women's University Settlement in 1887. This organization aimed to improve conditions in London's poorer districts, particularly benefiting women and children through educational and recreational initiatives. The settlement was part of the broader Settlement Movement, which encouraged middle-class individuals to live among and serve working-class communities rather than merely donating money. Women from Cambridge and Oxford colleges, including Gladstone, Octavia Hill, and Alice Gruner, participated in this movement and lived at the Settlement at 44 Nelson Square, Southwark.

In 1901, Gladstone became the second Warden of the Blackfriars Settlement, succeeding Margaret Sewell. She served for five years but found the administrative aspects less aligned with her interests and subsequently stepped down.

**Later Life and Legacy**

In 1922, the posthumous publication of the diaries of her former lady's maid, Auguste Schlüter, who had served the Gladstone family since the 1860s and maintained contact afterward, brought additional insight into her personal life. Helen Gladstone died in Hawarden on 19 August 1925.

**Family and Personal Interests**

Helen was one of William Ewart Gladstone’s children, and her family background was influential in her life's pursuits. She was known to be an enthusiastic cyclist and often rode with her sister Mary, engaging in outdoor activities consistent with her active lifestyle.