Gertrude Eaton

Gertrude Eaton (1864 – 8 March 1940) was a Welsh singer, and co-founder of the Society of Women Musicians. She was also active as a suffragist, and on the issue of prison reform.

Early life and education

Gertrude Eaton was born in Swansea, the fifth daughter of businessman and magistrate Robert Eaton of Bryn-y-mor, and his wife Helen.^[1] The Eatons were a prominent family; the imposing Bryn-y-mor was built by an ancestor in the eighteenth century.^[2]

Eaton studied music in Italy, and from 1894 to 1897 at the Royal College of Music.^[3]

Career

In 1911 Eaton co-founded the Society of Women Musicians with composers Katharine Emily Eggar and Marion Scott.^[4][5] The first meeting was held in October 1911, when Eaton was elected treasurer; she also spoke at that first meeting.^[6][7] She served a term as president of the Society from 1916 to 1917.^[8]

Gertrude Eaton was also active on the issues of suffrage and prison reform, and served a term as president of the

Eaton died in 1939, at Hampstead. Her colleague Margery Fry wrote in an obituary of Eaton, "She would take endless pains to help a cause or an individual when her sympathy was aroused."^[15]

References