Mrs Laura Rosalie Locke

Identified in the Silvy daybooks as 'Mrs Laura R. Locke,' this is probably Laura Rosalie Locke (1820-1890), wife of the barrister and Member of Parliament James Locke (1805-1880).

Born in Calcutta in or about 1820, she appears on the 1851 census with her husband James Locke visiting her father-in-law, also James Locke, a 'builder' in Herne Hill. Her husband gave as his profession 'Barrister in actual practice / Common Pleader City of London.' Also with them on the night of the census was their two-year-old son John Henry Locke.

In April 1857 John Locke was elected the Member of Parliament (Liberal) for Southwark, a seat he held until his death in 1880. He was mainly active in causes for the working class and local government, introducing a bill that give witnesses in criminal cases the right to affirm as in civil cases.

The 1871 census shows the family living at 63 Eaton Place, London.

Mrs Locke died, aged 70, at Belgrave Mansions in Grosvenor Gardens on 10 April 1890. She left an estate valued at £5584.

Photographed by Camille Silvy of London on 21 February 1862.