Lilian Staple Mead

Lilian Staple Mead (30 June 1865 – 27 November 1936) was an Australian suffragette and children's book author. She was the only female student ever educated at Adelaide's Prince Alfred College.

Early life and education Lilian Staple Mead was born on 30 June 1865, the eldest child of Baptist minister Silas Mead and Ann (née Staple). Her mother died when she was nine. before moving to Prince Alfred College in 1883–1884 to complete her matriculation, where she was the only female student at the time and since.

Mead was a leader alongside her father in Christian Endeavour and in 1897 gave an address at the society's international convention in California called "The World's Prayer Chain" in which she called for prayers for, among other things, the downfall of caste in India and the abolishment of foot-binding in China.

Mead authored two children's fiction books, A Brother's Need and Patsie's Bricks, which was called by one reviewer "far superior to the general run of books for children." Her third book, Daring and Doing, was a collection of short stories of heroism, based upon true stories and "intended to inspire young readers to similar acts of unselfish devotion." She also had short stories published in The Quiver, a Christian magazine.

Personal life Mead married Crosbie Brown, a tutor at the East London Missionary Training Institute, Harley House, and after honeymooning in Switzerland, they lived in London. They had one son, Roger Crosbie Brown, in 1902 in Bourneville. Mead was one of about 50 women celebrated on banners at the University of Adelaide.

Books