[4] In the 1820s the family lived in France where their father was stationed at St Germain en Laye, near Paris, and later in Normandy.

[7] Though their formal education was at an end, Maria and Emliy continued to improve themselves by travelling extensively and became expert linguists through their visits to France, Spain and Italy, reading books from their father's extensive library, and became acquainted with many intellectuals of the age through their father's contacts.

[4] In the publication they voiced their disapproval of the frivolous attitude to marriage and the established view that women should be only educated enough to attract a husband.

[13] Maria's husband died in 1864, and she began to take an active role in public life and joined Emily in the movement for the improving of education for girls.

In 1870 she wrote to the repeatedly to The Times to try to raise funds for the North London Collegiate School for Girls and encouraged Frances Buss to introduce student teachers.

[4] In the same year she also unsuccessfully stood for election as the representative for the Borough of Chelsea to The London School Board, one of the first women to do so.

[14] Maria saw the election as a turning point in her career leading her and Emily to work more toward the improvement of Women's Education.

[15] Maria proposed the creation of a national movement which would promote women's education and presented the scheme to the Society of Arts in 1871.

[17] The scheme received great support and Maria gave a second paper to the Social Science Association's annual congress in Leeds later the same year.

[18] The Union aimed 1871 to establish good and cheap day schools for all classes above the level of elementary education.