Emmeline Pankhurst
Emmeline Pankhurst
Full Name and Common Aliases
Emmeline Pankhurst was born on July 14, 1858, in Moss Side, Manchester, England. She is commonly known as Emmeline Pethick-Lawrence after her marriage to Frederick Lawrence.
Birth and Death Dates
Birth: July 14, 1858
Death: June 14, 1928
Nationality and Profession(s)
Emmeline Pankhurst was a British suffragette leader. She dedicated her life to fighting for women's right to vote in the United Kingdom.
Early Life and Background
Pankhurst grew up in a middle-class family with five siblings. Her father, Robert Goulden, was a physician who advocated for social justice. Emmeline's early exposure to her father's progressive views likely influenced her future involvement in politics.
In 1879, Pankhurst married Richard Marsden Pankhurst, and the couple had three children together: Christabel, Sylvia, and Adela. Tragically, their marriage ended with Richard's death from diabetes in 1898.
Major Accomplishments
Emmeline Pankhurst co-founded the Women's Social and Political Union (WSPU) with her daughters Christabel and Sylvia in 1903. The organization played a pivotal role in the suffrage movement, employing tactics such as civil disobedience and hunger strikes to bring attention to their cause.
Some of Emmeline's notable achievements include:
Organizing numerous marches and protests
Advocating for women's right to vote through non-violent direct action
Using her leadership skills to unite the suffrage movementNotable Works or Actions
Emmeline Pankhurst wrote extensively on the subject of women's rights. Her work, including:
"The Suffragette Movement: A Record of Its Rise and Development," provides valuable insights into the history of the suffrage movement.
"Aristocratic Privilege vs. Popular Sovereignty," a speech delivered at the Manchester Free Trade Hall in 1913Impact and Legacy
Emmeline Pankhurst's tireless efforts have left an indelible mark on history. Her leadership, conviction, and willingness to challenge societal norms continue to inspire individuals around the world.
In recognition of her contributions:
In 1906, Emmeline was arrested for inciting a riot during a suffrage procession.
* The British government granted women's right to vote in 1918, after years of Pankhurst's tireless advocacy.
Quotes by Emmeline Pankhurst
Emmeline Pankhurst's insights on:
I do not remember a time when I could not read, nor any time when reading was not a joy and a solace.
As long as women consent to be unjustly governed, they will be; but directly women say: “We withhold our consent,” we will not be governed any longer as long as government is unjust.
It is obvious to you that the struggle will be an unequal one, but I shall make it – I shall make it as long as I have an ounce of strength left in me, or any life left in me.
Those men and women are fortunate who are born at a time when a great struggle for human freedom is in progress. It is an added good fortune to have parents who take a personal part in the great movements of their time. I am glad and thankful that this was my case.
I thought I had been a suffragist before I became a Poor Law Guardian, but now I began to think about the vote in women’s hands not only as a right but as a desperate necessity.
We woman suffragists have a great mission – the greatest mission the world has ever known. It is to free half the human race, and through that freedom to save the rest.
I want to say to you who think women cannot succeed, we have brought the government of England to this position, that it has to face this alternative: either women are to be killed or women are to have the vote.
