Catherine Booth was born as Catherine Mumford at Ashbourne, Derbyshire, on 17 January 1829. Catherine was educated by her mother, Sarah Mumford, and brought up a Methodist. When her family moved to London in 1852, Catherine met William Booth at a Methodist chapel and they were married on 16 June 1855. After their marriage Catherine travelled extensively with William for his work as an itinerant preacher with the Methodist New Connection, and their first child, Bramwell, was born in 1856 in Halifax. While living in Gateshead, Catherine wrote 'Female Teaching', a treatise in defense of female ministry but it was not until later, 1860, that Catherine began to preach herself. William and Catherine left New Connection Methodism in 1862 and became independent evangelists until, in 1865, they formed The Christian Mission in the East End of London, which later became The Salvation Army. Although never commissioned as a Salvation Army officer, Catherine had a significant influence on Salvation Army theology and ministry, and she supported William and their eight children in their work. She is often referred to as 'The Army Mother'. She continued to preach until 1888 when she was diagnosed with cancer. She died at Clacton-on-Sea on 4 October 1890 and was buried at Abney Park Cemetery, London.
