Agnes Benham

Agnes Mary Matilda Benham born Agnes Mary Matilda Nesbit (3 December 1850 – 7 March 1932) was an Australian socialist and advocate of divorce and sex reform.

[1] In 1870, she married John James Benham and they planned to move to Paraguay a few years later.

[4] Agnes helped to form the "Clarion fellowship of Socialists" and she served on its first committee.

[5] Agnes argued for the right to dissolve a loveless marriage, stating that the law created de facto "prostitution", if divorce was not permitted.

[6] Her daughter Rosamund's 1903 marriage was unhappy and after she parted from her husband there was a divorce based on his cruelty.

He husband rarely worked and demanded money from her threatening her with a pistol and assaulting her.