Müller, Mary Ann (c. 1819–1902)
Müller, Mary Ann (c. 1819–1902)
New Zealand feminist. Name variations: Mary Muller or Mueller; (pseudonym) Femina. Born Mary Ann Wilson in London, prob 1819 or 1820; died July 18, 1901, at Blenheim, NZ; m. James Whitney Griffiths (chemist), Dec 16, 1841 (died); m. Stephen Lunn Müller (doctor with 4 children), Dec 5, 1851 (died 1891); children: (1st m.) 2.
Pioneer suffragist, immigrated to NZ (Aug 1849); under the pseudonym Femina, published articles in local newspaper arguing for emancipation and women's suffrage; wrote An Appeal to the Men of New Zealand (1869), the 1st pamphlet on the women's vote published in New Zealand; owing to disapproval of husband, had to work in secret; became a member of London suffrage society and campaigned for such reforms as Married Women's Act (1884); revealed identity long after husband's death (1898).
See also Dictionary of New Zealand Biography (Vol. 1).