About Dorothy Heneker
Lived 1886 – 1968 (aged 81–82). Dorothy Heneker was a lawyer.
Dorothy Alice Heneker (1886–1968) was a Canadian lawyer and feminist from Montreal. She was the director of the International Federation of Business and Professional Women from its formation in 1930 until 1936.
Early life and eductation Dorothy Alice Heneker was born in Montreal in 1886 to Richard and Alice Heneker , and had three siblings. Her father was a lawyer. She studied music and law at University of King's College and McGill University, graduating in 1925 and becoming the first woman to hold both a Bachelor of Civil Law and a Bachelor of Common Law. and later became the vice president of the organisation. During her term as director, she campaigned for women's rights, supporting "the right of all people to work, unhampered by restrictions of sex or social status". In 1931, Heneker travelled to Norway and Sweden to give speeches encouraging Scandinavian participation in the IFBPW. In 1938, she travelled around the United States to discuss and support the status of women in the Assembly of the League of Nations.
Personal life and death In 1952, Heneker married Royal Navy surgeon commander Arthur D. C. Cummins. She died in 1968.
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Important facts
People in Dorothy Heneker's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Dorothy Heneker's
Frequently asked questions
Who was Dorothy Heneker?
Canadian lawyer and feminist (1886–1968)
When was Dorothy Heneker born?
Dorothy Heneker was born in 1886.
When did Dorothy Heneker die?
Dorothy Heneker died in 1968.
What was Dorothy Heneker's occupation?
Dorothy Heneker was a lawyer.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Dorothy Heneker. https://biography.guide/dorothy-heneker/
MLA: "Dorothy Heneker." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/dorothy-heneker/.
Chicago: "Dorothy Heneker." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/dorothy-heneker/.
Data last updated: 2026-09-23 · Spot an error? Report a correction.
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