Ebsworth's mother was Hilda Mary, (born Sullivan) and her father, Arthur Ebsworth, was an officer in the
Royal Marines. They were living in Southsea when she was born in the Royal Naval and Royal Marine Maternity Home, but early life was spent in various barracks. She was educated at Notre Dame Convent,
Worth, West Sussex, and at
Portsmouth High School. She read history at
Royal Holloway College, University of London, where she was a formidable debater, captaining teams in intercollegiate contests. She was
called to the Bar at
Gray's Inn in 1962, becoming the sixth female High Court judge after
Elizabeth Lane,
Rose Heilbron,
Margaret Booth,
Elizabeth Butler-Sloss and
Joyanne Bracewell. All previous female High Court judges were appointed to the
Family Division. In 1992 Ebsworth was the first woman to be assigned to the
Queen's Bench Division. On 20 May 1992, the day after her 55th birthday, Ebsworth was appointed a
Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE). In later life, she was involved in teaching advocacy at
Gray's Inn, and for the
South Eastern Circuit, particularly at an annual course at
Keble College, Oxford. ==Death==