Emma Holt

Emma Holt (10 January 1862 – 19 December 1944) was a British philanthropist and supporter of women's education. She was seen as Liverpool University's "Fairy Godmother".

Life Holt was born in West Derby (now in Liverpool). She was the only child of Elizabeth (born Bright) and George Holt. Her father was co-founder of the Lamport and Holt shipping Line and he was a strong supporter of University College, Liverpool. Holt attended lectures there on architecture in 1884 and 1900-1901. Her family were Unitarians and she was a strong supporter of the Reverend John Hamilton Thom who was minister at the Renshaw Street Unitarian Chapel on Mount Pleasant in Liverpool. She became a leader of that chapel. In 1894 Thom died and the chapel began its move to Ullet Road where Holt continued as one of its leaders.

In 1889 Percy Bigland completed a portrait of her and it is in the Sudley House collection.

In 1896 her father died and she and her mother continued and expanded the family's philanthropy.

Holt died on 19 December 1944 at her home in Coniston where she had retired.