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Chrystal MacmillanSuffragette, peace activist, lawyer
Date of Birth: 13.06.1872
Country:  Great Britain |
Content:
- Suffragette, Peace Activist, Lawyer
- Suffrage Activism
- International Suffrage and Peace Advocacy
- Legal Career
- Later Years and Legacy
Suffragette, Peace Activist, Lawyer
Early Life and EducationJessie Crystal McMillan, born on May 1, 1872, was the only daughter of Jessie Crystal Finlayson and John McMillan, a tea merchant. She attended St. Leonard's School and St. Katharine's School in St. Andrews, then embarked on groundbreaking academic studies at the University of Edinburgh in October 1892.
McMillan excelled in her studies, earning first-class honors in mathematics and natural philosophy, and second-class honors in moral philosophy and logic. She became the first woman to achieve such outstanding results at the university. She also joined the Edinburgh Mathematical Society, becoming the second woman member.
Suffrage Activism
McMillan was an active member of the Edinburgh National Society for Women's Suffrage (ENSWS). After the merger of two major suffrage societies in 1897, she and Louisa Stevenson joined the National Union of Women's Suffrage Societies (NUWSS) as its Edinburgh executive members.
In 1906, McMillan's bid to vote in a University seat election was denied, leading her to challenge the definition of "persons" in the university charter. She appealed to the university courts and later the House of Lords, becoming the first woman to plead a case before the Law Lords.
International Suffrage and Peace Advocacy
McMillan attended the sixth International Woman Suffrage Alliance (IWSA) Congress in 1911, where she initiated a project to document women's suffrage status worldwide. In 1913, "Woman Suffrage in Practice, 1913" was published, co-authored by McMillan and other prominent suffragettes.
When World War I broke out, McMillan became an ardent peace activist. She attended the International Congress of Women in 1915 and was part of the delegation that presented peace proposals to President Woodrow Wilson. She played a crucial role in organizing the second Women's Congress in Zurich in 1919 and advocating for women's representation at the Paris Peace Conference.
Legal Career
Following the Representation of the People Act 1918, women were granted the right to vote and stand for public office. McMillan pursued a legal career, becoming a barrister at Middle Temple and joining the Western Circuit in 1926. She was the only the second woman to be called to the Bar in that circuit.
Later Years and Legacy
In her later years, McMillan focused on advocating for women's economic emancipation through the Open Door International. She died on September 21, 1937, due to a heart condition, leaving behind a lasting legacy as a trailblazing suffragette, peace activist, and lawyer.
