Margaret Kidd

Dame Margaret Henderson Kidd QC, married name Macdonald (14 March 1900, Bo'ness - died 22 March 1989, Cambridge) was a pioneering woman lawyer, based in Edinburgh, Scotland.

She was the elder daughter of James Kidd, solicitor and Unionist MP for Linlithgowshire, and Janet Gardner Turnbull, a teacher.

She was educated at Linlithgow Academy and graduated with an MA and LLB from the University of Edinburgh in 1922. She was called in 1923 to the Faculty of Advocates, the Scottish bar, becoming its first female member, and its only one until 1948.

In 1928, on his death of her father, she contested his parliamentary seat, also as a Unionist, but was defeated by Emanuel Shinwell. In 1930 she married Donald Somerled MacDonald, by whom she had a daughter Anne.

She was the first lady advocate to appear before the House of Lords and before a parliamentary select committee; and in 1948 became the first British woman King's Counsel in Britain.

She was appointed Sheriff Principal (the first woman to occupy this post) for Dumfries and Galloway in 1960, and Sheriff Principal of Perth and Angus from 1966 to her retirement in 1975. She was also Editor of the Court of Session law reports of the Scots Law Times from 1942-1976.

Apart from her legal work she maintained an active public and charitable role. She was a founder member of the Stair Society and a vice-president of the Federation of University Women and the Electrical Association for Women. She also chaired the Queen's Nursing Institute and Blind Welfare.

She was made a DBE in 1975, and received an honorary LLD from the University of Dundee in 1982 and the University of Edinburgh in 1984.

She is recalled as a traditionalist and a Conservative, who nevertheless pioneered roles for women in the legal profession and could be radical in her criticisms of legal and political institutions. A eulogy by Lord Hope of Craighead concluded: "Her success was won by strength of character, courage and integrity and it is a mark of her true qualities that, despite what might seem to be the revolutionary nature of her achievements, she always held the affection and respect of others".

References

• Isobel Anne Poole, "Kidd , Dame Margaret Henderson (1900–1989)", Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004 accessed 5 Aug 2007

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Name	Kidd, Margaret
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Date of birth	14 March 1900
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Date of death	22 March 1989
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