author
Flora L. (Flora Louisa) Shaw
1852–1929
A pioneering journalist and author, she helped shape how the British Empire was discussed in the press and is often remembered for proposing the name "Nigeria." Her work combined reporting, travel, and strong opinions about imperial politics, making her a notable and sometimes controversial public voice of her time.
2 Audiobooks
Castle Blair: A Story of Youthful Days
by Flora L. (Flora Louisa) Shaw
The work of the War Refugees Committee : An address given by Lady Lugard to the Royal Society of Arts, March 24th, 1915
by Flora L. (Flora Louisa) Shaw
About the author
Born in December 1852, Flora Louisa Shaw became a British journalist and writer at a time when few women held such public influence. She worked for major newspapers including the Pall Mall Gazette and the Manchester Guardian, and later rose to prominence at The Times, where she served as colonial editor in the 1890s.
Her journalism was closely tied to imperial affairs. She traveled widely and wrote about South Africa, Canada, Australia, and West Africa, helping shape public discussion of Britain’s empire. She is especially known for a newspaper article in which she suggested the name "Nigeria" for the territory around the Niger.
Later she married Frederick Lugard and became Lady Lugard. She continued to write, and her legacy today is remembered both for her success as a woman in high-profile journalism and for her deep involvement in the politics and language of empire.