| Jane Stuart-Wortley | |
| Birth Name: | Jane Thompson |
| Birth Date: | 5 December 1820 |
| Birth Place: | York, England |
| Death Place: | Ripley, Surrey, England |
| Other Names: | Jane Lawley |
| Known For: | philanthropy |
| Children: | 9 |
| Father: | Lord Wenlock |
| Mother: | Caroline Neville |
| Relatives: | Beilby Lawley (brother) |
| Nationality: | British |
Jane Stuart-Wortley or Jane Thompson; Jane Lawley (5 December 1820 – 4 February 1900) was an English philanthropist.
Stuart-Wortley was born in York in 1820 when her surname was Thompson. Her family adopted the surname Lawley when her father became Lord Wenlock.[1]
In 1846 she married James Stuart-Wortley.[2] They had four sons and five daughters; two of their sons died in childhood:thumb|Five daughters of Jane Stuart-Wortley
In 1846, her husband was sworn in as a Privy Counsellor. In 1852 she became a woman of influence when she inherited a considerable fortune from her father. Her husband held office as Solicitor General for England and Wales under Lord Palmerston from 1856 until May 1857. He had to resign in 1858 due to spinal injuries sustained in a riding accident. He and Jane left London to live at Upper Sheen House near Mortlake where she cared for him. He became worse in 1869 and they moved back to London. In London Jane was able to delegate the care of James at least in part to their daughters.[1]
Jane was now more available to find her own interests. She took a great interest in schemes in London that were aimed at improving the lot of the poor. She supported the East London Nursing Association[1] which since 1868 had supplied a network of District Nurses in east London. Each parish supplied funds and lodging for their nurse and matrons would ensure supervision.[3]
Stuart-Wortley's husband died in 1881 and she died at Ripley House in Ripley, Surrey, on 4 February 1900, aged 79.[4]
A memorial fund in her name was created in 1901 by her children that benefited a nursing charity.[5]