Margaret Llewwlyn Davies
![Margaret Llewwlyn Davies](000MargaretDaviesD2.jpg)
Margaret Llewelyn Davies, the daughter of J. Llewelyn Davies, was born at Kirkby Lonsdale, Westmorland on 16th October, 1861. Her father was a Christian Socialist and a strong supporter of women's rights. After attending Girton College, Cambridge, Llewelyn Davies became involved in several progressive causes.
Llewelyn Davies joined the Women's Co-operative Guild (WCG) and for thirty-two years was the organisation's General Secretary. Under her leadership the WCG became a campaigning organisation. After carrying out an investigation into the working conditions of the 2,000 women employed in co-operative stores, the WCG advocated the introduction of a minimum wage. By 1912 the Co-operative Wholesale Society and 200 other retail societies had complied with the WCG's policy on wages.
A member of the National Union of Suffrage Societies (NUWSS), Llewelyn Davies took part in several peaceful demonstrations, including a sandwich-board picket of the House of Commons in 1912. She also gave evidence to the Royal Commission on divorce reform and the Women's Co-operative Guild created great controversy by urging that divorce by mutual consent after two years separation should be legalized.
![Margaret Llewelyn Davies (c. 1910)](000MargaretDaviesD1.jpg)
Other campaigns instigated by Llewelyn Davies included an attempt to reduce the high infant-mortality rates by the introduction of improved ante-natal, natal, and post-natal care. These views were expressed in her book, Maternity (1915). Other books included, Life as We Have Known It (1931).
Margaret Llewelyn Davies died on 28th May 1944.