Beatrice Webb was a British sociologist, economist, and social reformer. She was a key figure in the early development of the British welfare state and co-founded the London School of Economics. Webb was also a prominent member of the Fabian Society, a socialist organization that played a significant role in the development of the British Labour Party. She was known for her work on poverty, labor conditions, and social policy, and her ideas continue to influence social and economic thought to this day.