Catharine Tait

Catharine Tait (; 9 December 1819 – 1 December 1878) was a British philanthropist. Life Tait was born in Elmdon near Rugby where her father was the rector. Her parents were Anna Maria and William Spooner. She had opposed Archibald Campbell Tait when he applied to be the headmaster at Rugby School because of differences in their belief. He was appointed on 28 July 1842 and she married him in the same year. He became the disappointing successor to Thomas Arnold as headmaster of Rugby School. In fact Catharine was a great support to him and on her own account she helped the poor in the town and established a school for girls. Her husband was appointed to the deanery of Carlisle in 1849. While she was in Carlisle she decided that it was her duty and she visited the local workhouse. Her experience was consulted when Louisa Twining formed the Workhouse Visiting Society with wider ambitions. Louisa's society gained a lot of momentum. Tait not only visited the workhouse but also the local school where she taught and in return she invited poor people to the deanery.