Maude Lawrence

Dame Maude Agnes Lawrence (16 April 1864 – 11 January 1933) was a British civil servant who was among the first women to serve in HM Government. She was appointed the first Chief Woman Inspector of the Board of Education in 1905.

Early life Lawrence was born in Southgate, London, the daughter of John Lawrence, 1st Baron Lawrence, Viceroy of India 1864–1869, and Harriette Katherine Hamilton of County Meath, Ireland. She was the niece of General Sir Henry Lawrence and Lieutenant-General Sir George Lawrence, and sister of John Lawrence, 2nd Baron Lawrence, rugby player Henry Lawrence, businessman Charles Lawrence, 1st Baron Lawrence of Kingsgate, and General Sir Herbert Lawrence.

Additionally, Lawrence's new role was created following a troubling report from the Inter-Departmental Committee on Physical Deterioration, also known as the Fitzroy Report. Reported The Times in 1905:

In her obituary, The Times reported that Lawrence declined to be known as an educationist, writing: "Her strength lay in her character — her sound common sense, her honesty of purpose, and her courage, together with a remarkable power of dealing with people of all sorts. She at once gained the confidence both of the inspectors and of the Permanent Secretary and the office. And thus under her the building up of the women's side of one branch after another of the Board's inspectorate soon became a natural process, welcome both to the Board and to the local authorities and the schools."

She died at Ickenham Hall, Uxbridge, following a short illness, at age 68.