Mrs. Catherine Gladstone : "a woman not quite of her time"

Catherine Glynne was born in 1812, in the same year as Charles Dickens. An earl's daughter she married the son of a self-made merchant, William Ewart Gladstone, who became Queen Victoria's Prime Minister on four occasions. While the Queen and the PM loathed each other, they both loved Catherine, Gladstone's wife. After a long and indecisive courtship, Gladstone said of his new wife that my Cathie forever twinkles. Society remarked that her beauty showed a profound intelligence. Catherine loved being in the main stream of action but disliked politicians, fashion and social niceties. Unusual for the time Gladstone was present at the birth of each of their eight children and Catherine insisted on feeding them herself. Mrs Gladstone's primary concern was support of the poor - in particular those suffering from cholera, near-starving mill girls and homeless orphans. She established the concept of free convalescent homes and her common-sense influenced the Poor Laws. To maintain her genius for charity she took every opportunity to approach Gladstone's friends for financial support for her good works. In return she found places for her husband's'rescue'women - young girls forced into prostitution as a result of poverty. When her brother's ironworks failed Catherine and her family faced poverty. It was Gladstone's financial skills that saved the family from bankruptcy. Catherine died on 14th June, 1900. Pertinent to this biography is the letter the author wrote to the Church Times about the reasons behind the riots in London and elsewhere in the United Kingdom, in August 2011. The letter header -'Mrs Gladstone! thou shouldst be living at this hour'- drew attention to a personality who in her time confronted severe social need through community action (the letter text is reproduced on the Press website). Catherine Glynne Was Born In 1812, In The Same Year As Charles Dickens. An Earl's Daughter She Married The Son Of A Self-made Merchant, William Ewart Gladstone, Who Became Queen Victoria's Prime Minister On Four Occasions. While The Queen And The Pm Loathed Each Other, They Both Loved Catherine, Gladstone's Wife. After A Long And Indecisive Courtship, Gladstone Said Of His New Wife That My Cathie Forever Twinkles. Society Remarked That Her Beauty Showed A Profound Intelligence. Catherine Loved Being In The Main Stream Of Action But Disliked Politicians, Fashion And Social Niceties. Unusual For The Time Gladstone Was Present At The Birth Of Each Of Their Eight Children And Catherine Insisted On Feeding Them Herself. Mrs Gladstone's Primary Concern Was Support Of The Poor In Particular Those Suffering From Cholera, Near-starving Mill Girls And Homeless Orphans. She Established The Concept Of Free Convalescent Homes And Her Common-sense Influenced The Poor Laws. To Maintain Her Genius For Charity She Took Every Opportunity To Approach Gladstone's Friends For Financial Support For Her Good Works. In Return She Found Places For Her Husband's Rescue' Women Young Girls Forced Into Prostitution As A Result Of Poverty. When Her Brother's Ironworks Failed Catherine And Her Family Faced Poverty. It Was Gladstone's Financial Skills That Saved The Family From Bankruptcy. Catherine Died On 14th June, 1900...--publisher's Description. A Meeting, A Marriage And Rising Power To 1840 -- Death Of A Daughter, Ladies Of The Night And Financial Disaster 1840s -- Journey To Naples, King Of An Island And 1850s -- Good-bye To A Sister -- Upsetting Miss Nightingale And Fighting Victorian Poverty For Poor Suffering Humanity -- A Loving Wife, A Widowed Queen And Preparing For Power 1860s -- Enter Disraeli, Departing Brothers And 1870s -- A Great Political Campaign -- A Time Of Change, The Great Courtesans And Murder 1880s -- Death Of A Soldier, Ireland, A Jubilee 1886- And Mrs. Gladstone Enters Politics 1892 -- Winds Of Change And Departure 1892-1896 -- Good-bye Catherine 1897-1900. Janet Hilderle. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [239]-240) And Index.

Catherine Glynne was born in 1812, in the same year as Charles Dickens. An earl's daughter, she married the son of a self-made British merchant, William Ewart Gladstone, who became Queen Victoria's Prime Minister on four occasions. While the Queen and the Prime Minister loathed each other, they both loved Gladstone's wife, Catherine. After a long and indecisive courtship, William Gladstone said of his new wife that "my Cathie forever twinkles." Society remarked that her beauty showed "a profound intelligence." Catherine loved being in the mainstream of the action, but she disliked politicians, fashion, and social niceties. Unusual for the time, William was present at the birth of each of their eight children and Catherine insisted on feeding them herself. Catherine's primary concern was support of the poor - in particular, those suffering from cholera, as well as near-starving mill girls and homeless orphans. She established the concept of free convalescent homes and her common sense influenced the Poor Laws. To maintain her genius for charity, she took every opportunity to approach William's friends for financial support for her good works. In return, she found places for her husband's 'rescue' women - young girls forced into prostitution as a result of poverty. When her brother's ironworks failed, Catherine and her family faced poverty. It was William's financial skills that saved the family from bankruptcy. Catherine died on June 14, 1900. Pertinent to this biography is a letter the author wrote to the Church Times in August 2011 about the reasons behind the riots in London and elsewhere in the United Kingdom. The letter's header - "Mrs. Gladstone! thou shouldst be living at this hour" - drew attention to a personality who, in her time, confronted severe social need through community action.