Margaret Tanner

Margaret Tanner born Margaret Priestman (October 25, 1817 – 1905) was an English social reformer. Priestman, along with members of hers and the Bright family, were important in the creation of some of the first women's suffrage societies, founded in London, Bristol, and Bath. Life Tanner was born in Newcastle upon Tyne in 1817. She was one of the nine children of the Quaker couple, Rachel (born Bragg) and Jonathan Priestman. Her father was a wealthy tanner in Newcastle upon Tyne and her mother (1791–1854) was a travelling minister in the Society of Friends. Her maternal grandmother was Margaret Wilson Bragg who had also been a Quaker minister. They lived in the Summerhill district of Newcastle. Career Tanner and members of hers and the Bright family, were important in the creation of some of the first women's suffrage societies, founded in London, Bristol, and Bath. Tanner was a supporter of the Ladies National Association for the Repeal of the Contagious Diseases Acts, which was formed in 1870 by Josephine Butler to protest against legislation which undermined the civil rights of those who had been designated prostitutes by the authorities in particular naval and military towns. Her sister Mary Priestman was the secretary of this organization and another sister Anna Priestmam was a member. All three sisters supported international campaigns against the government's regulation of prostitution, and continued their family's close association with the temperance movement. Margaret was President of the Western Temperance League.