 She studied at the University of Edinburgh and although she did not graduate she went on to found and run the British Resorcin Manufacturing Co., Ltd in London.She was born near Edinburgh and went first to Currie Primary, and then on to James Gillespie's High School for 4 years.At the age of 12 she went on to the Broughton Junior Student Centre, from where she entered the University of Edinburgh in 1909.