Isabella Elder

Isabella Ure Elder (1828–1905) was a Glasgow philanthropist who took a particular interest in education, especially of women, and in the welfare of the people of Govan, site of her husband's shipbuilding yard.

Isabella Ure was born on 15 March 1828 in Glasgow's Gorbals, the only surviving daughter of solicitor Alexander Ure (1788–1830) and his wife Mary Ross. She had one older brother, John Francis (1820–1883). Her education is unknown. In 1857 Isabella married John Elder (1824–1869), a partner in marine engineers Randolph, Elder & Co. In 1860 the thriving business acquired a shipyard at Govan, and in 1868 became known as John Elder & Co. By the time John Elder died in 1869 it was regarded as one of the world's leading shipbuilders.

Isabella was now the sole owner of the business and ran it successfully for nine months until it was transferred to a partnership led by her brother. As a wealthy widow with no children, she now had time on her hands and began touring the continent for extended periods while also becoming a major philanthropist in her home city.

During her widowhood Isabella lived at 6 Claremont Terrace, close to the University of Glasgow in which she took a keen interest. In 1873 she gave £5000 to support the Chair of Civil Engineering and in 1883 she provided £12500 to endow the John Elder Chair of Naval Architecture. The Glasgow and West of Scotland Technical College (now the University of Strathclyde) also benefited. When Queen Margaret College, the first college in Scotland to offer higher education to women, was founded she purchased North Park House in Glasgow's West End and gave it to the College rent free (1883). She also agreed to fund its medical school in 1890.

Although taught by university staff, women could not yet qualify for a degree. When the University Commissioners (Scotland) announced in 1892 that women would be accepted in universities, QMC became part of the University of Glasgow. It saw its first graduations in medicine in 1894 and in arts in 1895. Isabella remained concerned that if women were taught separately they would receive sub-standard teaching, and only agreed to North Park House being handed over to the University on condition that the teaching provided to women was equal to that of men. She was disappointed in the standard of lecturing, however, and refused to give the Principal more money in 1899 unless the original agreement was kept.

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