Jane Arthur

Jane Arthur (18 November 1827 – 25 May 1907), was a Scottish feminist, philanthropist and activist. She was the first woman to be elected to a Scottish school board.

Life Jane Glen was born in Foxbar in Renfrewshire on 18 November 1827 to Jessie Fulton and Thomas Glen. Her family were related to the thread manufacturer, the Coats Group Coats family. In 1847, at the age of about 20, she married James Arthur who was a draper in Paisley. The Arthurs' successful business was wholesale clothing and this funded their estate at Barshaw. Their children included Matthew who became Lord Glenarthur.

Elections of women to school boards came into force with the Education (Scotland) Act 1872. In 1873 Arthur became the first Scottish woman to stand for and be elected to a board when she was elected to the Paisley school board.

Jane Arthur campaigned for women's suffrage, as well as temperance, and she provided bursaries for a Renfrewshire student and for a female medical student.