Bright was born on 5 July 1835 to Joseph and Catherine Mellor. Her father, brother and grandfather,
Frederick Pennington M.P., were noted for their support for women's rights. Alongside
Lydia Becker the organisation's Secretary, they encouraged
Lilly Maxwell, a widowed shop owner, whose name had mistakenly appeared on the register of voters in Manchester, to cast her vote in a by-election on 26 November 1867, which Bright went on to win. When the
Ladies National Association for the Repeal of the Contagious Diseases Acts was formed in 1869 then Bright was a founder member. She became the treasurer of the
Married Women's Property Committee and remained active there until the
Married Women's Property Act 1882 was passed. This was an act that gave women the right to control their own property.
Elizabeth Cady Stanton credited Bright with the achievement in getting the bill passed, writing 'for ten consecutive years she gave her special attention to this bill ... was unwearied in her efforts, in rolling up petitions, scattering tracts, holding meetings' The passing of the Married Women's Property Act was important, as Bright had not considered that married women required the vote until this law was enacted. She is credited with ensuring that the
Local Government Act 1894 was passed which gave the vote to women in local elections. It also allowed women to stand as parish or
district councillors. == Personal life and death ==