Catharine Dowman

Catharine Dowman (; 25 May 1878 – 19 September 1972) was an English philanthropist associated with women's suffrage and the restoration of the Cutty Sark.

Family The Anti-suffrage Ostrich (1909 – c. 1914) by the Suffrage Atelier Catharine was a member of the wealthy English Courtauld textile family. She was born in Bocking, Essex, the daughter of Sydney Courtauld (1840–1899) and Sarah Lucy Sharpe (1844–1906). Her older brother Samuel Courtauld founded the Courtauld Institute of Art.

In 1912, she met her future husband, Wilfred Harry Dowman, whilst a passenger sailing from London to Sydney on the Port Jackson, a cadet training ship. Wilfred was already married so they had to wait for his divorce before finally marrying in 1920. Recognising her as the clipper ship Cutty Sark, he and Catherine strived to purchase her. They sold parts of their estate, along with other vessels including the brigantine Lady of Avenal.

Over the next two years, the Dowmans funded the restoration of the ship and by 1924 Cutty Sark was displayed as the flagship at the Fowey Regatta. and the 'Anti-Suffrage Ostrich' – and were widely distributed as postcards.