Person Open DS/UK/3273 Philipson; Mabel (1887-1951); British actress, politician Philipson Mabel 1887-1951 British actress, politician Female

Mabel Philipson (1 January 1887 – 8 January 1951) was a British actress and politician. She was the third female member to serve in the House of Commons after this became legally possible in 1918, representing Berwick-upon-Tweed. Born Mabel Russell, she became a successful music hall and comedy actress. Widowed by 1911, in 1917 she married Hilton Philipson, a business owner and National Liberal politician; they had three children. On 21 November 1918 the Parliamentary Qualification of Women Act, introduced a few weeks previously by Lord Robert Cecil was given Royal Assent, making women eligible as Members of Parliament. Hilton Philipson was unseated on petition in 1923, due to a fraud involving his agent. Mabel Philipson won the by-election to follow him, while standing as a Conservative. It was said that she made no secret that she intended to hold the seat until her husband's return; however when her husband's business hit financial difficulties in 1928 she announced her retirement as "the reason why I have held the seat has ceased to exist". She returned to the stage after leaving Parliament, appearing as Mrs Tilling in Other People's Lives at the Wyndham Theatre in 1929. International Standard Archival Authority Record for Corporate Bodies, Persons and Families - ISAAR(CPF) 2nd edition - ICA 2004 ISBN 2-9521932-2-3 National Council on Archives, Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997 Yes RAHhbryony 11/27/2012 Rachael.Fragola 3/1/2022 dbd43091-c314-4a97-b0d5-e0e48f2b3941