Madeleine Shaw Lefevre

As a member of the prominent Shaw Lefevre family of civil servants and politicians, Madeline benefited from a privileged upbringing, although surprisingly little is known about her early life.

[5] Nevertheless, Shaw Lefevre was a reluctant appointee, and only accepted the position on condition that the post would last for just one year, and that she would only need to be present during term time.

[7] Shaw Lefevre's chief task during her term as Principal was to establish Somerville on a sustainable long-term footing, and this she achieved.

[8] Crucially, she gave opponents of women's education little opportunity to attack the College, collaborating closely with her counterpart at Lady Margaret, Elizabeth Wordsworth.

[9] The pressure of her work led Shaw Lefevre to submit her resignation in 1885, a decision which she only withdrew after securing a leave of absence for six months.

[11] In addition to her work at Somerville, Shaw Lefevre also became a trustee of Bedford College for Women in London from 1885.