Butler, Josephine

(1828–1906)

   Philanthropist.

   Butler was born Josephine Grey in Dilston, England. She married the Revd George Butler at the age of twentyfour. Early in her marriage she began to set up refuges for reformed prostitutes. She came to the notice of the general public for her tireles advocacy of the repeal of the Contagious Diseases Acts, which was finally achieved in the 1880s. She also campaigned for the raising of the age of sexual consent. After a notorious case in which her associate, W.T. Stead, succeeded in procuring a very young girl, the necessary Act was passed through Parliament. She was a person of enormous courage and energy and was strengthened by her devoted prayer life which was modelled on that of St catherine of siena. In recent years she has become a feminist heroine.

   Josephine Butler, Personal Reminiscences of a Great Crusade (1896);

   M.G. Fawcett, Josephine Butler: Her Work and Principles (1927);

   G. Petrie, A Singular Iniquity: The Campaigns of Josephine Butler (1971).