Moberly, born in 1846, was the tenth of fifteen children.[1] She came from a professional background; her father, George Moberly, was the headmaster of Winchester College and later Bishop of Salisbury.[2][3] In 1886 Moberly became the first Principal of a hall of residence for young women, St. Hugh's College in Oxford.[4] It became apparent that Moberly needed someone to help run the college, and Jourdain was asked to become Moberly's assistant.[5]