Alice Theresa Stern was born in
Marylebone in 1853 to a Jewish family. Her father was
David de Stern in the Portuguese nobility and a co-founder of the investment banking company "Stern Brothers". In 1918 her husband died in the flu pandemic when he was the prospective Conservative candidate for
Kennington. She was chosen to replace him and the election was delayed for a few days because of the change in candidate. This was the first British general election where some women were allowed to vote and she became the first ever woman to be a Conservative Party candidate in a general election. She came second to the Liberal candidate who was the person given approval by the coalition government. If she had have been elected then she would have been the first woman member of parliament in Britain. She did much better than her husband had when contesting this seat but it has been commented "that there is nothing like bereavement, injury or childbirth to commend a candidate to the British electorate." Lucas died at Stornaway House in
London in 1924, aged 70. == References==