Marguerite Backhouse was one of the first hundred women to graduate in Law from the University of Glasgow. She was born in Columbo, Ceylon on 22nd March 1921. Her father was William Ernest Backhouse about whom she rarely offered details on matriculation, though his occupation was described as a ‘relieving officer and assistant registrar’. During her years as a student at Glasgow her family home was at The Ridge, Eastriggs in Dumfriesshire, though she lived in Clarence Drive during term-time. She began studying for the B.L. degree in 1939, enrolling in Constitutional Law and History, and Law of Scotland. Thereafter she did well and gained a Faculty of Procurators’ Prize and first class certificate in Forensic Medicine. It is likely that she served an apprenticeship though she did not seek admission to the roll of solicitors in Scotland after graduating B.L.in 1942. General Council records in the postwar years locate her as living in the Carlisle area but without information on marriage or occupation.
Sources
University of Glasgow Registry and General Council Records
Scotlands People
