Pankhurst, Emmeline

Pankhurst, Emmeline (1858-1928), political reformer, b. Manchester, England.

In the time of Emmeline Goulden, who married Dr. Richard Pankhurst, women were not allowed to vote in the election of Parliament in the UK. Mrs. Pankhurst led a fight to obtain votes for women.

Her supporters were known as suffragettes. At first they spoke at public meetings and tried to obtain support from Members of Parliament. But no one took much notice of them so they began protesting more strongly.

They threw stones through the windows of the Prime Minister's house in Downing Street, smashed the windows of large stores, and slashed pictures in public art galleries. They chained themselves to railings near the Houses of Parliament and one suffragette threw herself in front of the King's horse in the Derby and was killed.

Mrs. Pankhurst and her supporters were often arrested. They refused to pay fines and were sent to prison, where they often refused to eat.

During the First World War (1914-18), Mrs. Pankhurst called upon suffragettes to help the country to win the war, and before the war was over Parliament promised to allow women to vote.

In 1918, women over thirty were allowed to vote and in 1928 those over twenty-one. Mrs. Pankhurst died on the day that Parliament agreed to this.

Eighteen months later, the Prime Minister, Stanley Baldwin, unveiled a statue of her in Victoria Tower Gardens, London.

See Paula Bartley Emmeline Pankhurst