Margaret Seward

Margaret Seward (22 January 1864 – 29 May 1929) became the earliest Chemist on staff at the Women's College (of which she was a founding Lecturer), from 1896 to 1915. She became the pioneer woman to obtain a first class in the honour school of Natural Science and later received an MBE for her work on nutrition during World War I.

Early life and education Margaret Seward was born on 22 January 1864 in Wigan, Lancashire. Her father was James Seward, a schoolmaster at the Liverpool Institute, and her mother was Sarah Jane Seward . She was educated at Blackburne House, Liverpool. and was the recipient of the Reinagle scholarship.

Career Upon graduation, Seward was immediately appointed Natural Science tutor and chaperone at Somerville, These were a study on the reaction kinetics between hydrogen chloride and potassium chlorate and a study of this reaction in the presence of iodide ions.

Seward was appointed as lecturer in Chemistry at Royal Holloway College (RHC) in 1887, where she taught Martha Annie Whiteley. She resigned in 1891 to travel to Singapore to marry John McKillop, a civil engineer. She was awarded an MBE in 1919 for her wartime studies on nutrition.

Political activity Margaret Seward McKillop joined the Fabian Society in 1894 and was a leading figure in its Women's Group, serving as chair for several years.

Death McKillop died on 29 May 1929 at St Mary's Nursing Home, Chiswick.