Phoebe Blyth

Phoebe Blyth (5 April 1816 – 12 February 1898) was a Scottish philanthropist, educationist and a leading campaigner for opening up opportunities for women in professional employment.

Early life and education Phoebe Blyth was born in the Newington area of Edinburgh in 1816. Her father was Robert Brittain Blyth, a metal merchant, and her mother was Barbara Cooper. When the association held its conference in Edinburgh in 1863, Blyth presented a paper strongly advocating that girls should be educated for employment and receive practical training in household management. Blyth wrote the first of a series of eight articles published in the magazine in 1875 on 'the industries and employments open to educated women': Blyth and Stevenson were also active in the movement for the opening of the medical profession and university education to women. Blyth was not, however, a campaigner in the movement for women's suffrage though she did support it.

Blyth served on the school board for eight years, retiring in 1881. During her time on the board, she promoted the educational value of teaching of cookery and household management for schoolgirls. Blyth was also convenor of the committee of domestic economy and convenor of the ladies' African committee of the Church of Scotland. Throughout her life, Blyth was also a committed philanthropist and regularly engaged in missionary activities.

Death Blyth died at her home, 27 Mansion House Road, in Edinburgh on 12 February 1898. She was buried at Grange Cemetery three days later. Her will left a trust of three hundred pounds a year to the support of “such indigent and infirm gentlewomen”, the recipients to be decided upon by female members of her extensive family. A portion of her estate was to be donated to hospitals, missions, asylums and sick societies in Edinburgh.