Elizabeth Phillips Hughes was born in King Street, Carmarthen in 1850 before moving to Spilman Street with her parents Anne and John. Elizabeth’s mother was a Jewish refugee who arrived in Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire in the late 18^th Century. Her father was a doctor.

Elizabeth was educated at Hope House, Taunton, Somerset before going on to Cheltenham Ladies College where she also taught. In 1881, aged 30, she attended Newnham College Cambridge where she became the first woman to achieve a First Class Honours degree at a time when women were not permitted to receive the award, regardless of their abilities.

By 1885, Elizabeth was principal of Cambridge Training College for Women and campaigned tirelessly for the right to education for all. She was so passionate about the issue that she made her lecture rooms available for working people on Sundays.

In retirement she travelled extensively and while in Japan, influenced the education system to include physical education for girls, and worked as a visiting Professor of English in Tokyo. Furthermore, Elizabeth investigated prison reform procedures in America with the aim of improving the British system.

Upon her return, Elizabeth became the only woman on the committee that drew up the charter for the University of Wales and, during the First World War (while in her 60s), ran a Red Cross Hospital. In 1917, she was also awarded the MBE.

Elizabeth Phillips Hughes died in 1925. Her published works included The Education of Welsh Women (1887) and The Education of a Nation (1919). Her legacy is commemorated at Cambridge where Hughes Hall is the only college named after a woman at the university.

Ganed Elizabeth Phillips Hughes yn Heol y Brenin, Caerfyrddin yn 1850 cyn symud i Heol Spilman gyda’i rhieni Anne a John. Ffoadur o Iddewes oedd mam Elizabeth a gyrhaeddodd Hwlffordd, Sir Benfro ar ddiwedd y 18fed Ganrif. Meddyg oedd ei thad.

Addysgwyd Elizabeth yn Hope House, Taunton, Gwlad yr Haf cyn mynd ymlaen i Goleg Merched Cheltenham lle bu hefyd yn addysgu. Yn 1881, yn 30 oed, aeth i Goleg Newnham Caer-grawnt lle llwyddodd fel y fenyw gyntaf i ennill gradd Anrhydedd Dosbarth Cyntaf ar adeg pan na chaniatawyd i fenywod dderbyn y radd hon, waeth beth oedd eu galluoedd.

Erbyn 1885, roedd Elizabeth yn brifathrawes Coleg Hyfforddi i Fenywod yng Nghaer-grawnt ac yn ymgyrchu’n ddiflino dros yr hawl i addysg i bawb. Roedd hi mor angerddol am hyn nes iddi sicrhau bod ei hystafelloedd darlithio ar gael ar ddydd Sul i’r bobl hynny oedd yn gweithio yn yr wythnos.

Ar ôl ymddeol, teithiodd yn helaeth a thra yn Japan, dylanwadodd ar y system addysg i gynnwys addysg gorfforol i ferched, a bu’n gweithio fel Athrawes Saesneg wadd yn Tokyo. Ar ben hynny, bu Elizabeth yn ymchwilio i’r gweithdrefnau diwygio carchardai yn America gyda’r nod o wella’r system ym Mhrydain.

Ar ôl dychwelyd, Elizabeth oedd yr unig fenyw ar y pwyllgor a luniodd y siarter ar gyfer Prifysgol Cymru ac, yn ystod y Rhyfel Byd Cyntaf (tra yn ei 60au), bu’n rhedeg Ysbyty’r Groes Goch. Hefyd yn 1917, urddwyd hi â’r MBE.

Bu farw Elizabeth Phillips Hughes yn 1925. Ymhlith ei gweithiau a gyhoeddwyd oedd The Education of Welsh Women (1887) a The Education of a Nation (1919). Caiff ei choffáu yng Nghaer-grawnt lle mai Neuadd Hughes yw’r unig goleg yn y brifysgol sydd wedi’i enwi ar ôl menyw.