Person    | Female  Born 6/1/1894  Died 22/5/1971

Stella, Lady Reading

Categories: Philanthropy

Countries: India, Turkey, USA

Philanthropist. Born Stella Charnaud in Constantinople (now Istanbul), Turkey. She is best remembered as the founder of the Women's Voluntary Services (now known as the Royal Voluntary Service). In 1925, she joined the staff of Viceroy Rufus Isaacs, (1st Earl of Reading), in Delhi, and eventually married him. After his death, she moved to America, becoming a close friend of Eleanor Roosevelt. In 1958 she was created a life peer in her own right, becoming Baroness Swanborough, and in 1958, the year that they were first allowed, was the second woman to take her seat in the House of Lords. Died at her home 16 Lord North Street, London.

Credit for this entry to: Alan Patient of www.plaquesoflondon.co.uk

Comments are provided by Facebook, please ensure you are signed in here to see them

This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
Stella, Lady Reading

Commemorated ati

Stella, Lady Reading

Stella Lady Reading, 1894 - 1971, Founder of the Women's Voluntary Services, ...

Read More

Other Subjects

John Thackeray

John Thackeray

Philanthropist. He was a wealthy benefactor, particularly to Lewisham and Christ's Hospital, where he had attended school. In 1840 he built and endowed the almshouses in Lewisham which bear his nam...

Person, Philanthropy

1 memorial
Lord Strathcona and Mount Royal, Donald Smith

Lord Strathcona and Mount Royal, Donald Smith

Born Scotland.   Emigrated to Canada in 1838 to work with the Hudson's Bay Company.  He worked his way up the company and entered politics, made his fortune and was knighted in 1886.  Died  28 Gros...

Person, Commerce, Philanthropy, Politics & Administration, Canada

1 memorial
Sir Julius Wernher

Sir Julius Wernher

Co-founder and funder (with Alfred Beit) of the Royal School of Mines building. Born Damstadt, Germany, came to London in 1871, and, acting as a diamond agent, went to Kimberly in South Africa. Re...

Person, Industry, Philanthropy, Race Issues, Germany, South Africa

1 memorial
Dr John Lettsom

Dr John Lettsom

Physician, philanthropist, abolitionist and entomologist. Born British Virgin Islands into a Quaker family. Aged 6 was sent to England to be educated. Came to London in 1766 to train at St Thomas' ...

Person, Medicine, Philanthropy, Race Issues, Virgin Islands

2 memorials
Frederick Nicholas Charrington

Frederick Nicholas Charrington

Renounced a brewing fortune to help the East End poor.  Born Bow Road, the heir to Charrington’s Brewery in Stepney.  He entered the business but, aged 19, experienced a religious conversion and be...

Person, Food & Drink, Jack the Ripper suspects, Philanthropy, Politics & Administration, Social Welfare

2 memorials