Ida Copeland
Encyclopedia
Ida Copeland F.R.S., MStJ
, M.P, [née Fenzi
] (1876–1964) was a British politician born and raised in Florence, Italy.
and daughter of Count Camillo Fenzi (†1883) Banker and Senator of the Grand Duchy of Tuscany
, and his wife, Evelyne Isabella, daughter of Sir Douglas Strutt Galton
, cousin of Florence Nightingale
. In 1898 her mother married Leonard Cunliffe, influential London financier, Governor of the Bank of England
, President of the Hudson's Bay Company
and one of the major investors in the Harrods
department stores, upon his death in August 1937 Cunliffe left a considerable bequest to the Fitzwilliam Museum
in Cambridge
.
In 1915 she married Richard Ronald John Copeland Esq (1884–1958), Staffordshire, grandson of William Taylor Copeland
, Mayor of London, president and chairman of the Spode
-Copeland firm of bone china manufacturers in Staffordshire, potters to the royal family since 1806.
Throughout her life she was dedicated to all forms of social and welfare causes. Funding and campaigning alongside Baden-Powell
for the development of the Girl Guide movement. She served as a division commissioner for the north-west of the county from 1918, while her husband Ronald was a county commissioner for the Boy Scout Association
. Later the Copeland family donated the Kibblestone Hall Estate to the Staffordshire Scouting Mouvement to be used as a scout camp.
candidate for Stoke on Trent in 1931 for the general election. Facing the opposition of Sir Oswald Mosley
, leader of the New Party
for the constituency, Copeland's popularity and involvement in local poliics and welfare proved fruitful. Mosley maintained strong connections with the Nazi Party in Germany. Lady Cynthia Mosley
, had won Stoke for Labour in 1929. Although Mosley spent less than a week campaigning in the constituency, directing his efforts instead at a national campaign, he met enthusiastic support there, especially amongst younger voters. However the electoral tide ran in Copeland's favour. Her husband's position as a leading china manufacturer in the Potteries, and her 'moderate and straightforward appeal' won her an audience even outside factory gates. She won by an impressive majority of 6654 votes. She was the 25th woman to be elected to the House of Commons.
On May 1932, Copeland made her maiden speech on import duties, which she approached 'entirely from the point of view of the pottery industry'. It was an industry under threat from foreign competition and she welcomed the protection that tariffs afforded. She believed that overseas manufacturers paid starvation wages to their workers, and it was with a critical eye on the opposition benches that she asked:
She made another plea for protection of the china industry in December 1933 after reports that Australian and New Zealand markets were being flooded by cheap Japanese goods, including skilful imitations of British wares: ‘the competition is so severe that it threatens to sweep the English Potteries right out of those countries’. She wanted the British government to compel the dominion governments, in their own interests as much as in Britain's, to take action to prevent this ‘dumping’. This was, though, a sensitive matter and the official response was sympathetic without being specific.
She was also godmother to the daughter of John Becker and Dorothy Crisp
(Elizabeth born 1946). Dorothy Crisp who kept her maiden name after marriage, was an English author, political writer and publisher. She was one time chairman of the British Housewives’ League, and (unlike Ida Copeland) was unsuccessful as an independent candidate in the 1943 Acton by-election in London.
Venerable Order of Saint John
The Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem , is a royal order of chivalry established in 1831 and found today throughout the Commonwealth of Nations, Hong Kong, Ireland and the United States of America, with the world-wide mission "to prevent and relieve sickness and...
, M.P, [née Fenzi
Fenzi
The Fenzi Bank and family were key players in both the economical growth of the Italian industrial revolution and the expansion of the north Italian Railways between Florence and Livorno in 18th and 19th century Italy.-The Family:...
] (1876–1964) was a British politician born and raised in Florence, Italy.
Family & Early Life
Great grand daughter of Count Emanuele FenziEmanuele Fenzi
Emanuele Fenzi , was an Italian a leading banker, iron producer, concessionaire of the Livorno–Florence railway and other railway enterprises, merchant for exportation of Tuscan products, and landowner...
and daughter of Count Camillo Fenzi (†1883) Banker and Senator of the Grand Duchy of Tuscany
Grand Duchy of Tuscany
The Grand Duchy of Tuscany was a central Italian monarchy that existed, with interruptions, from 1569 to 1859, replacing the Duchy of Florence. The grand duchy's capital was Florence...
, and his wife, Evelyne Isabella, daughter of Sir Douglas Strutt Galton
Douglas Strutt Galton
Sir Douglas Strutt Galton KCB, GCB, F.R.S., MStJ, Chevalier of the Légion d'Honneur, DCL, LLD was a British engineer.-Education and early life:...
, cousin of Florence Nightingale
Florence Nightingale
Florence Nightingale OM, RRC was a celebrated English nurse, writer and statistician. She came to prominence for her pioneering work in nursing during the Crimean War, where she tended to wounded soldiers. She was dubbed "The Lady with the Lamp" after her habit of making rounds at night...
. In 1898 her mother married Leonard Cunliffe, influential London financier, Governor of the Bank of England
Governor of the Bank of England
The Governor of the Bank of England is the most senior position in the Bank of England. It is nominally a civil service post, but the appointment tends to be from within the Bank, with the incumbent grooming his or her successor...
, President of the Hudson's Bay Company
Hudson's Bay Company
The Hudson's Bay Company , abbreviated HBC, or "The Bay" is the oldest commercial corporation in North America and one of the oldest in the world. A fur trading business for much of its existence, today Hudson's Bay Company owns and operates retail stores throughout Canada...
and one of the major investors in the Harrods
Harrods
Harrods is an upmarket department store located in Brompton Road in Brompton, in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, London. The Harrods brand also applies to other enterprises undertaken by the Harrods group of companies including Harrods Bank, Harrods Estates, Harrods Aviation and Air...
department stores, upon his death in August 1937 Cunliffe left a considerable bequest to the Fitzwilliam Museum
Fitzwilliam Museum
The Fitzwilliam Museum is the art and antiquities museum of the University of Cambridge, located on Trumpington Street opposite Fitzwilliam Street in central Cambridge, England. It receives around 300,000 visitors annually. Admission is free....
in Cambridge
Cambridge
The city of Cambridge is a university town and the administrative centre of the county of Cambridgeshire, England. It lies in East Anglia about north of London. Cambridge is at the heart of the high-technology centre known as Silicon Fen – a play on Silicon Valley and the fens surrounding the...
.
Leonard Daneham Cunliffe left to the Fitzwilliam a collection whose breadth and splendour enriched almost every department. It ranged from ancient and Renaissance bronzes, paintings, drawings, prints and portrait miniatures to enamels, furniture, textiles, pottery and metal plate, including an exquisite Nautilus shell cup made in London c.1585-1586.
In 1915 she married Richard Ronald John Copeland Esq (1884–1958), Staffordshire, grandson of William Taylor Copeland
William Taylor Copeland
William Taylor Copeland, MP, Alderman was a British businessman and politician who served as Lord Mayor of London and a Member of Parliament.- Family and business :...
, Mayor of London, president and chairman of the Spode
Spode
Spode is a well-known English brand of pottery and homewares based in Stoke-on-Trent.- The overview :Spode is a Stoke-on-Trent based pottery company that was founded by Josiah Spode in 1770...
-Copeland firm of bone china manufacturers in Staffordshire, potters to the royal family since 1806.
Girl Guides
Copeland was an active participant in the success of the Girl Guides and was member of the International Council of Girl Guides from 1920–28 and 1940-1948.Throughout her life she was dedicated to all forms of social and welfare causes. Funding and campaigning alongside Baden-Powell
Robert Baden-Powell, 1st Baron Baden-Powell
Robert Stephenson Smyth Baden-Powell, 1st Baron Baden-Powell, Bt, OM, GCMG, GCVO, KCB , also known as B-P or Lord Baden-Powell, was a lieutenant-general in the British Army, writer, and founder of the Scout Movement....
for the development of the Girl Guide movement. She served as a division commissioner for the north-west of the county from 1918, while her husband Ronald was a county commissioner for the Boy Scout Association
The Scout Association
The Scout Association is the World Organization of the Scout Movement recognised Scouting association in the United Kingdom. Scouting began in 1907 through the efforts of Robert Baden-Powell. The Scout Association was formed under its previous name, The Boy Scout Association, in 1910 by the grant...
. Later the Copeland family donated the Kibblestone Hall Estate to the Staffordshire Scouting Mouvement to be used as a scout camp.
Elected MP
Elected chairman of the Stoke division of the Women's Unionist Association in 1920, she was chosen as ConservativeConservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
candidate for Stoke on Trent in 1931 for the general election. Facing the opposition of Sir Oswald Mosley
Oswald Mosley
Sir Oswald Ernald Mosley, 6th Baronet, of Ancoats, was an English politician, known principally as the founder of the British Union of Fascists...
, leader of the New Party
New Party
New Party may refer to:* New Party * New Party Corrientes * New Party Japan* New Party * New Party * New Party - the party of Oswald Mosley...
for the constituency, Copeland's popularity and involvement in local poliics and welfare proved fruitful. Mosley maintained strong connections with the Nazi Party in Germany. Lady Cynthia Mosley
Lady Cynthia Mosley
Lady Cynthia Blanche Mosley was a British politician of Anglo-American parentage and the first wife of the Conservative and Labour MP and British fascist Sir Oswald Mosley...
, had won Stoke for Labour in 1929. Although Mosley spent less than a week campaigning in the constituency, directing his efforts instead at a national campaign, he met enthusiastic support there, especially amongst younger voters. However the electoral tide ran in Copeland's favour. Her husband's position as a leading china manufacturer in the Potteries, and her 'moderate and straightforward appeal' won her an audience even outside factory gates. She won by an impressive majority of 6654 votes. She was the 25th woman to be elected to the House of Commons.
On May 1932, Copeland made her maiden speech on import duties, which she approached 'entirely from the point of view of the pottery industry'. It was an industry under threat from foreign competition and she welcomed the protection that tariffs afforded. She believed that overseas manufacturers paid starvation wages to their workers, and it was with a critical eye on the opposition benches that she asked:
Can we allow goods manufactured under those conditions to come into this country and lower the standard of living of our own people? I say 'no', and I firmly believe that, if we raise these tariffs, the time will come when our industry will be on its feet again.
She made another plea for protection of the china industry in December 1933 after reports that Australian and New Zealand markets were being flooded by cheap Japanese goods, including skilful imitations of British wares: ‘the competition is so severe that it threatens to sweep the English Potteries right out of those countries’. She wanted the British government to compel the dominion governments, in their own interests as much as in Britain's, to take action to prevent this ‘dumping’. This was, though, a sensitive matter and the official response was sympathetic without being specific.
She was also godmother to the daughter of John Becker and Dorothy Crisp
Dorothy Crisp
- Biography :Born in Leeds 17 May 1906, she became a public speaker and writer on nationalism, contributing to the National Review in the 1920s. Among her books were The Rebirth of Conservatism and Why we Lost Singapore . She was a British political commentator with contacts in high places at the...
(Elizabeth born 1946). Dorothy Crisp who kept her maiden name after marriage, was an English author, political writer and publisher. She was one time chairman of the British Housewives’ League, and (unlike Ida Copeland) was unsuccessful as an independent candidate in the 1943 Acton by-election in London.
Ancestry
Accomplishments
- Served on the International Council of Girl Guides from1920–1928 and in 1940,
- Division Commissioner for N.W. Staffordshire Division of Girl Guides from 1918;
- Chairman of Stoke Division Women's Unionist Association, 1920;
- Chairman of the Staffordshire Anglo Polish Society 1943-;
- President of the Staffordshire Allotment Holders Association in 1948-;
- President of the Women's Advisory Council, Truro Division 1955.
- MStJ: Sister of Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem, 1949.
- Polish Gold Cross of Merit, 1952.
- Donor of the Trelissick Gardens Estate to the National Trust in 1955.
Sources
- The Times, 23 Oct 1931
- Hansard 5C, vol. 265, col. 1204
- The Oxford Dictionary of National Biography
- Fellows of the Royal Society of Arts
- Hudson's Bay Company Website
- Fitzwilliam Museum Website
- Who Was Who