Grey, Maria Georgina (1816–1906)

English writer. Name variations: Maria Shireff. Born Maria Georgina Shirreff in 1816 in England; died in 1906 in England; dau. of rear admiral; sister of Emily Shirreff; m. cousin William Thomas Grey, 1841.

Pioneer of women's education, was educated by governesses, then undertook self-education with sister Emily; lived abroad and learned several languages; with Emily, wrote Passion and Principle (1841) and Thoughts on Self-Culture Addressed to Women (1850), laying out arguments for women's education and criticizing ways in which women were trained to be dependent; became proponent of Friedrich Froebel and promoted Froebel Society of which Emily was president; published Intellectual Education and Its Influence on the Character and Happiness of Women (1858); with Emily, founded National Union for Promoting the Higher Education of Women (1871) which created Girl's Public Day School Company (1872), enabling schools to be owned by trusts and controlled by a board rather than private individuals; established 38 day schools for middle-class girls (mostly along suburban rail routes into London), including Croydon school; created template for future girls' education efforts, notably Church Schools Company and Girls' High Schools; founded Maria Grey College (1878) which is still extant as Twickenham campus of Brunel University; her efforts bore fruit in the form of policy changes allowing women greater access to University of London (1878), Cambridge (1881) and some schools at Oxford (1879). Also wrote Love and Sacrifice (with Emily, 1868), Journal of a Visit to Egypt (1869), The Education of Women (1871) and Old Maids: A Lecture (1875).