Reeves, Magdalene Stuart (1865–1953)
Reeves, Magdalene Stuart (1865–1953)
New Zealand suffragist, social reformer, government official, literary inspiration, and writer. Name variations: Maud Robison, Mrs. Pember Reeves. Born Dec 24, 1865, at Mudgee, New South Wales, Australia; died Sept 13, 1953, in London, England; dau. of William Smoult Robison (bank manager) and Mary Magdalene (Saunders) Robison; m. William Pember Reeves (politician), 1885; children: 5.
Moved to New Zealand with family (1868); became lady editor of weekly Canterbury Times (1889); was founding executive member of Canterbury Liberal Association (1890) and active in Canterbury Women's Institute's petition for women's suffrage (1893); moved to London with family (1896); joined Fabian Society (1904); was instrumental in establishing Fabian Women's Group (1907); published Round About a Pound a Week as Mrs. Pember Reeves (1913); friendship with H.G. Wells developed into affair and pregnancy, which inspired Wells' Ann Veronica; joined Board of Trade inquiry into food costs during WWI, which resulted in an appointment to Ministry of Food as director of women's services (1917).
See also Dictionary of New Zealand Biography (Vol. 3).