Melian Stawell

Florence Melian Stawell (2 May 1869 – 9 June 1936), also known as F. M. Melian and F. Melian, was an Australian classical scholar, internationalist campaigner and writer, active in England.

Early life and family Stawell was born Florence Melian Stawell on 2 May 1869 in Kew, Melbourne to Sir William Stawell, a lawyer and Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Victoria, and Mary Frances Elizabeth Stawell . Both of Stawell's parents were born in Ireland to Anglo-Irish ascendancy families.

At her father's preference Stawell was known by her middle name, Melian, which had been held by three previous women in her paternal family. During this period, Stawell campaigned for the creation of a separate non-denominational women's college.

Personal life On 9 June 1936, Stawell died from cancer in Headington, Oxford aged 67. Stawell was buried at Headington Cemetery. Following Reynold's death seven months later, her ashes were scattered over Stawell's grave and the gravestone bears both their names.