Maud Burnett
Encyclopedia
Dame Maud Burnett DBE JP
(27 February 1863 — 17 November 1950) was a local English politician who served as the first female mayor of Tynemouth
.
, Northumberland
. She was taught at local schools before travelling to Vevey
, Switzerland, to complete her education. After returning she did voluntary welfare work and work teaching a bible class and at the Church of the Holy Saviour in Tynemouth. Following her family's Liberal
political sympathies, Burnett served as honorary secretary of the Tynemouth Women's Liberal Federation from 1895 to 1910.
In 1902, Burnett founded a Tynemouth branch of the Women's Local Government Society, standing for election to the municipal council in 1909. Although defeated, she was returned the next year with the support of the Liberal Society, becoming the first woman in the North of England to sit as a municipal councillor. In 1918 she was created a DBE in thanks for her work during the First World War as President of the Tynemouth War Savings Association, and on 28 August 1920 was made a Justice of the Peace
.
Following her retirement from the council in 1921 she did voluntary work before being re-elected in 1926. From 1928 to 1930 she served a pair of two-year terms as Mayor of Tynemouth, and was the first woman elected to that position. She retired from politics in 1934, and died at home on 17 November 1950, aged 87.
Justice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
(27 February 1863 — 17 November 1950) was a local English politician who served as the first female mayor of Tynemouth
Tynemouth
Tynemouth is a town and a historic borough in Tyne and Wear, England, at the mouth of the River Tyne, between North Shields and Cullercoats . It is administered as part of the borough of North Tyneside, but until 1974 was an independent county borough in its own right...
.
Life
The second daughter of Jacob Burnett, a shipowner, Burnett was born on 27 February 1863 at 10 Prior's Terrace, TynemouthTynemouth
Tynemouth is a town and a historic borough in Tyne and Wear, England, at the mouth of the River Tyne, between North Shields and Cullercoats . It is administered as part of the borough of North Tyneside, but until 1974 was an independent county borough in its own right...
, Northumberland
Northumberland
Northumberland is the northernmost ceremonial county and a unitary district in North East England. For Eurostat purposes Northumberland is a NUTS 3 region and is one of three boroughs or unitary districts that comprise the "Northumberland and Tyne and Wear" NUTS 2 region...
. She was taught at local schools before travelling to Vevey
Vevey
Vevey is a town in Switzerland in the canton Vaud, on the north shore of Lake Geneva, near Lausanne.It was the seat of the district of the same name until 2006, and is now part of the Riviera-Pays-d'Enhaut District...
, Switzerland, to complete her education. After returning she did voluntary welfare work and work teaching a bible class and at the Church of the Holy Saviour in Tynemouth. Following her family's Liberal
Liberal Party (UK)
The Liberal Party was one of the two major political parties of the United Kingdom during the 19th and early 20th centuries. It was a third party of negligible importance throughout the latter half of the 20th Century, before merging with the Social Democratic Party in 1988 to form the present day...
political sympathies, Burnett served as honorary secretary of the Tynemouth Women's Liberal Federation from 1895 to 1910.
In 1902, Burnett founded a Tynemouth branch of the Women's Local Government Society, standing for election to the municipal council in 1909. Although defeated, she was returned the next year with the support of the Liberal Society, becoming the first woman in the North of England to sit as a municipal councillor. In 1918 she was created a DBE in thanks for her work during the First World War as President of the Tynemouth War Savings Association, and on 28 August 1920 was made a Justice of the Peace
Justice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
.
Following her retirement from the council in 1921 she did voluntary work before being re-elected in 1926. From 1928 to 1930 she served a pair of two-year terms as Mayor of Tynemouth, and was the first woman elected to that position. She retired from politics in 1934, and died at home on 17 November 1950, aged 87.