BODICHON, BARBARA LEIGH SMITH English educationalist, was born at Watlington, Norfolk, on April 8,1827, the daughter of Benjamin Smith (1783-186o), long M.P. for Norwich. She early showed a force of character and catho licity of sympathy that later won her a prominent place among philanthropists and social workers. In 1857 she married an eminent French physician, Dr. Eugene Bodichon, and, although wintering many years in Algiers, continued to lead the movements she had initiated on behalf of English women. In 1869 she published her Brief Summary of the Laws of England concerning Women, which had a useful effect in helping forward the passage of the Married Women's Property act. In 1866, co-operating with Miss Emily Davies, she matured a scheme for the extension of university education to women, and the first small experiment at Hitchin developed into Girton college, to which Mme. Bodichon gave liberally of her time and money. With all her public inter ests, she found time for society and her favourite art of painting. She studied under William H. Hunt, and her water-colours, ex hibited at the Salon, the Academy and elsewhere, showed great originality and talent, and were admired by Corot and Daubigny. Mme. Bodichon died at Robertsbridge, Sussex, on June 1, 1891.
See Lady Stephen, Emily Davies and Girton College (1927).