Elizabeth Pease Nichol
| Elizabeth Pease Nichol | |
|---|---|
Pease in 1840.
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| Born | 5 January 1807 Darlington, England |
| Died | 3 February 1897 (aged 90) Edinburgh, Scotland |
| Nationality | British |
| Known for | Abolitionist and suffragist |
| Parent(s) | Joseph Pease Elizabeth Beaumont |
| Relatives | John Beaumont Pease (brother) |
Elizabeth Pease Nichol (5 January 1807 – 3 February 1897) was an abolitionist, anti-segregationist, woman suffragist, chartist and anti-vivisectionist in 19th century Great Britain. She was active in the Peace Society, the Temperance movement and founded the Darlington Ladies Anti-Slavery Society. In 1853 she married Dr. John Pringle Nichol (1804–1859), Regius Professor of Astronomy at the University of Glasgow. She was one of about six women who were in the painting of the World Anti-Slavery Convention of 1840.
Elizabeth Pease was born in Darlington, England to Joseph Pease and his wife Elizabeth Beaumont, who were members of the Society of Friends (Quakers). Her father started the Peace Society the year of her birth, the same year that Great Britain abolished the slave trade in its empire, while allowing slavery to continue.
The Quakers held strong views about the value of educating girls as well as boys. Elizabeth attended a school with her brother and male cousins, she was one of only two girls attending the school. When the school closed down, her education had to be continued at home which was made difficult due to her mother's poor health. Elizabeth had to help care for her mother from a very early age.
By 1837, Pease was leading the Darlington Ladies Anti-Slavery Society. Charles Stuart, an Anti-Slavery abolitionist and lecturer, encouraged her to send a female delegate or attend a national society being formed by Joseph Sturge. Pease resisted more public involvement, as she did not seek the limelight but wanted to work locally for the causes she held to be important. In 1838 Nicholl published an important pamphlet with Jane Smeal titled Address to the Women of Great Britain. This document was a "call to arms" to British women to speak in public and to form their own anti-slavery organisations.
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