Mabel Russell was the daughter of Albert Edward Russell and Alice Shaw. Mabel's birth was registered in the Jan-Feb-Mar quarter of 1886 in the Camberwell district.[1]
She made her stage debut on June 8th, 1907 as Fifi in the first English version of The Merry Widow at Daly's Theatre, London. She became one of the Gaiety Girls - a chorus girl at the Gaiety Theatre, London and went on to become a successful music hall and comedy actress.
In February 1911 she married Thomas Stanley Rhodes (1890-1911) the son of cotton manufacturer, Henry Rhodes. [2] On the 16th of August that year, Mabel and her husband were in a car crash at Brooklands motor racing circuit. He died of his injuries and Mabel was severely injured.
"Mrs. Stanley Rhodes, formerly Mabel Russell favorite of Gaiety theater goers, London, was badly injured in an automobile collision at Maidenhead, England. Her husband, who was driving the car, was killed. He was only 21 and a nephew of the late Cecil Rhodes. They had been married but three months."
New Castle News, New Castle, Pennsylvania, Wednesday, 13 September 1911, p.6c:
In 1917, Mabel married Hilton Philipson, a businessman and politician. [3] They had three children - two boys and a girl.
As Mabel Philipson, she became a politician, serving as a Conservative member of parliament between 1923 and 1929 before returning to the theatre. As Member of Parliament for Berwick-upon-Tweed, she was the third female member (preceded by Lady Astor and Mrs. Margaret Wintringham ) to serve in the House of Commons after this became legally possible in 1918. Her political specialisms were in housing, infant welfare, womens issues and agriculture.
"A third woman was elected to the House of Commons when Mrs. Hilton Philipson (Conservative) won a by-election at Berwick-Upon-Tweed with a majority of 6,742 votes over Labor and the Liberals. Mrs. Philipson was known before her marriage as Mabel Russell, pretty and attractive Gaiety Girl. Her husband (National Liberal) was elected at the General Elections last November to the seat she now occupies, but owing to alleged illegality on the part of his agent he was disqualified. Lady Astor likewise captured her husband's seat after he had been elevated to the peerage. Mrs. Wintringham, the third member of the femiine trio at Westminster, was elected to her husband's seat after his death. The last two ladies, however, kept to their husband's party, the former being elected as a Conservative and the latter as a Liberal. The only other woman who has been elected to a seat in the British Parliament is the Countess Markie-vicz, Irish Republican, chosen by a Dublin political division; but she, like all the rest of the Sinn Feiners, refused to take her seat."
Time Magazine, 11 June 1923
Her last stage appearance was in 1933.
She died in Brighton on 8 January 1951, aged 64. [4]
"The funeral of Mrs Hilton Philipson (Mabel Russell) took place on Saturday at Ditchling parish church, Sussex. The Rev. A.C. Crookshank officiated."
The Times, Monday 15 January 1951
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R > Russell | P > Philipson > Mabel (Russell) Philipson
Categories: Members of Parliament, Berwick-upon-Tweed | Members of Parliament, United Kingdom 1923 | Members of Parliament, United Kingdom 1924 | Edwardian Actresses | Surrey, Notables | Notables