Agnes de Selincourt (1872–1917) was a Christian missionary in India, responsible for the founding of missions, becoming the first Principal of Lady Muir Memorial College, Allahabad, India and then Principal of Westfield College, London, UK from 1913 until her death in 1917. Early life and education She was born on 4 September 1872 in Streatham, London, the eldest sister of Ernest de Sélincourt, who became vice-principal of the University of Birmingham. Her father, Charles Alexandre De Sélincourt, was a merchant of French origin, and her mother was, Theodora Bruce, née Bendall. She was educated at Notting Hill High School and attended Girton College, Cambridge from 1891 until 1894, where she obtained a first class degree studying French and German. From 1895 to 1896, she studied Oriental languages at Somerville College, Oxford. She reputedly had a working knowledge of 14 languages. She then spent a time also teaching at Sheffield High School. Missionary work Women's education with a Christian mission was central to her life. Whilst still at university, in 1893, de Selincourt and her friend Clara Ruth Rouse were instrumental in bringing several independent organisations in British women's colleges into affiliation with the British College Christian Union. They also detailed how to transfer the ideals of social settlement work, involving serving a community by living among its people, from their college life into missions. In 1894 they outlined a plan for a Missionary Settlement for University Women where women from English universities would set up a hostel in India and do medical, educational, and evangelistic work. In 1896, she helped found this Missionary Settlement for University Women in Bombay, India, setting into practice the strategy of befriending the Indian women so that the teachings were heard. In 1900 she accompanied Mary Fraser on a walking tour of the Kula Valley. In 1901, she became the first Principal of Lady Muir Memorial College, Allahabad, India, and remained there until 1909. In 1904 she wrote describing the early days of her work at Lady Muir College telling how teaching was given in Hindustani, the one common language amongst students from 'widely different races and antecedents'. She was 'intensely interested to watch the development of these girls' whose commitment to intellectual pursuits were an 'encouragement for the future' and the students' 'fellow-countrywomen'. On her return to England she worked for the Student Christian Movement. In 1911 she was part of the executive committee