English author, and an advocate of the extension of the sphere of women’s work, born at Headley Rectory, Surrey, her father being the Rev. Ferdinand Faithfull. She was educated at a school in Kensington, and in her twenty-first year was presented at court. Four years later she established a typographical business in Great Coram Street, London, for women compositors, which received the approval of Queen Victoria, and became known as the Victoria Press. She dedicated to the Queen a magnificent work, produced at the establishment, entitled Victoria Regia, in recognition of her appreciation of which her Majesty gave a royal warrant for the appointment of Miss Faithfull as printer and publisher in ordinary to her Majesty. In 1863 the Victoria Magazine was started, in which the claims of women to wider recognition were earnestly promoted. In 1868 she appeared as a novelist, publishing Change Upon Change, which reached a second edition in two months. She next made a success as a public lecturer before literary and philosophical societies. Between 1872 and 1883 she visited the United States three times, publishing a book, Three Visits to America, in which she graphically described various industries for women, and also her impressions of the Mormons. She was afterward engaged by the Lady’s Pictorial as a staff contributor. In 1888, in commemoration of thirty years’ work in the interests of her sex, Miss Faithfull was presented by the Queen with a signed portrait. This was followed by a civillist pension. In 1890, by request of the Queen, Miss Faithfull visited the Queen of Roumania, who was at the time in England, for the purpose of detailing to the royal visitor the various opportunities in Britain for the employment of women. She published, besides the works mentioned, On Some of the Drawbacks Connected with the Present Employment of Women (1869) and A Welcome: Original Contributions in Prose and Verse, published on the occasion of the marriage of the Prince of Wales, and dedicated to the Princess (1863). She died at Manchester on the 31st of May 1895.
