https://en.bharatpedia.org/w/index.php?action=history&feed=atom&title=Alice_Isaacs%2C_Marchioness_of_ReadingAlice Isaacs, Marchioness of Reading - Revision history2026-09-07T15:50:14ZRevision history for this page on the wikiMediaWiki 1.43.6https://en.bharatpedia.org/w/index.php?title=Alice_Isaacs,_Marchioness_of_Reading&diff=127846&oldid=prev>CrumbleCrumble at 19:01, 13 May 20212021-05-13T19:01:11Z<p></p>
<p><b>New page</b></p><div>[[File:Alice Isaacs, Marchioness of Reading in 1918 by Bachrach Studios.jpg|thumb|Alice Isaacs, Countess of Reading in 1918 by [[Bachrach Studios]]]]<br />
'''Alice Edith Isaacs, Marchioness of Reading''', {{post-nominals|country=GBR|size=100%|sep=,|CI|GBE}} (''née'' '''Cohen'''; {{circa|1866}} &ndash; 30 January 1930) was the first wife of [[Rufus Isaacs, 1st Marquess of Reading]], and a prominent philanthropist in [[British Raj|colonial India]].<ref name="times">{{cite news |title=Obituary: Lady Reading – Work for Indian Women |work=[[The Times]] |page= 19|date=31 January 1930}}</ref><br />
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Isaacs was born in London, the third daughter of Albert Cohen, a merchant in the [[City of London]], and his wife, Elizabeth. She married [[Rufus Isaacs, 1st Marquess of Reading|Rufus Isaacs]], then a newly qualified [[barrister]], on 8 December 1887. He had considered being a stockbroker but his wife encouraged him to pursue a career in law. He was ultimately [[Solicitor General for England and Wales|Solicitor-General]], [[Attorney General for England and Wales|Attorney-General]] and [[Lord Chief Justice]].<ref name="times"/><br />
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Her title successively changed from Mrs Isaacs to Lady Isaacs on her husband's knighthood in 1910, Baroness Reading on his ennoblement in 1914, Viscountess Reading in 1916, the Countess of Reading in 1917, and finally the Marchioness of Reading in 1926.<ref name="times"/><br />
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In 1921, Lord Reading was appointed [[Viceroy of India]]. He was reluctant to accept, as his wife's health was delicate, but she persuaded him. She accompanied him to India and, despite continuing poor health, served prominently as Viceregal Consort. She also threw herself into charitable work, particularly with Indian women and children. She established the [[Women of India Fund]] in 1921 and [[National Baby Week]] in 1923, as well as supporting many existing charities. In 1926 she campaigned to construct a standard hospital in [[Peshawar]], in place of Agerton Hospital. The new hospital was subsequently named as [[Lady Reading Hospital]]. Later, upon the retirement of her husband in 1926, they returned to England.<ref name="times"/><br />
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She was appointed [[Dame Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire]] (GBE) in the 1920 civilian war honours<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=31840|supp=y|page=3757|date=30 March 1920}}</ref> and [[Companion of the Order of the Crown of India]] (CI) on 14 March 1921,<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=32257|date=15 March 1921|page=2092}}</ref> the latter being a traditional honour for the Vicereine of India. She was awarded the [[Kaiser-i-Hind Medal]] in gold in 1924.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=32941|date=30 May 1924|page=4419}}</ref> She died of [[cancer]] in 1930, aged 64.<br />
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==Footnotes==<br />
{{Reflist}}<br />
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{{Authority control}}<br />
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Reading, Alice Isaacs, Marchioness of}}<br />
[[Category:1860s births]]<br />
[[Category:1930 deaths]]<br />
[[Category:British marchionesses]]<br />
[[Category:British women in World War I]]<br />
[[Category:Deaths from cancer in England]]<br />
[[Category:English humanitarians]]<br />
[[Category:English Jews]]<br />
[[Category:English philanthropists]]<br />
[[Category:People from the City of London]]<br />
[[Category:Recipients of the Kaisar-i-Hind Medal]]<br />
[[Category:Companions of the Order of the Crown of India]]<br />
[[Category:Dames Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire]]<br />
[[Category:Viceregal consorts of India]]</div>>CrumbleCrumble