Anna Bateson

Not to be confused with her daughter, Anna Bateson (botanist).

Anna Bateson (née Aikin or Aiken, c. 1830 – 1918) was an English suffragist who aided with the foundation of Newnham College, Cambridge.

Anna Bateson
Anna Bateson in 1875
Born	Anna Aikin or Aiken c. 1830
Died	1918
Nationality	English
Occupation(s)	Suffragist and women's activist
Spouse	William Henry Bateson
Children	Margaret Heitland William Bateson Anna Bateson (botanist) Mary Bateson
Father	James Aikin
Relatives	William Emerton Heitland (son-in-law) Gregory Bateson (grandson) Margaret Mead (granddaughter-in-law) Mary Catherine Bateson (great-granddaughter)

Newnham College's first building was on its Sidgwick Avenue Site in 1875, which is still the main premises of the college today.

Early life and family

Born about 1830 to James Aikin of Liverpool, she married William Henry Bateson, Master of St John’s College, Cambridge.^[1] Four of her children – botanist Anna Bateson, geneticist William Bateson, journalist Margaret Heitland, and historian Mary Bateson – were all active in the women’s suffrage movement.

Newnham College

In 1875, Anna encouraged St John’s College to lend land for the first building of Newnham College.^[2] She served on the first governing body of the College from 1880 to 1885.^[3]

Suffragist and liberal activism

In 1884, along with Millicent Fawcett, Kathleen Lyttelton, and her daughter Anna Bateson, she founded the Cambridge Women’s Suffrage Association.^[4] She was its secretary until 1890 and also sat on the executive committee of the Central National Society.^[1]

She was president of the Cambridge Women’s Liberal Society and an active speaker for the Women’s Liberal Federation, where she served as vice-president.^[1]

Death and legacy

She died in 1918.^[1]

Newnham College has an Anna Bateson Room.^[5]