Mary Augusta Ward, born Mary Augusta Arnold in 1851, was a British novelist who published her literary works under her married name, Mrs. Humphry Ward. Active during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, she established a significant reputation as a writer while balancing her literary career with active participation in the social and political spheres of her era. She passed away in 1920.
Beyond her achievements in literature, Ward was deeply committed to social reform and philanthropy. She dedicated substantial effort to improving educational opportunities for impoverished communities, which culminated in her establishing a social Settlement in London designed to address these educational and social needs.
Despite her active public life, Ward held conservative views regarding gender roles in politics. She was a staunch and vocal opponent of women's suffrage, actively campaigning against granting women the right to vote. Her leadership in this movement led to her becoming the founding President of the Women's National Anti-Suffrage League in 1908, a role that defined much of her later public legacy.
