The bill was greatly influenced by the reformist opinions of Caroline Norton.

Her pamphlets arguing for the natural right of mothers to have custody of their children won much sympathy among parliamentarians.

The need for the reform in the custody of children area had already been the subject of parliamentary actions before 1839.

However, because of Norton's intense campaigning,[1][2] Parliament passed the Custody of Infants Act 1839 and included there many of her reformist ideas.

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