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Emmeline Pankhurst: The Rebellious British Political and Suffrage Activist

Emmeline Pankhurst was a leading British activist for women’s rights who worked to gain the right to vote for women. Time magazine named her one of the 100 Most Important People of the 20th Century in 1999, stating that she “shaped an idea of objects for our time” and “shook society into a new pattern that could never be reversed.”. Founder of the Women’s Social and Political Union in 1903, she fought for the vote for women by utilizing militant tactics. After World War I broke out, Pankhurst was imprisoned several times but supported the war effort. 1918, the British Parliament granted limited suffrage to women. Pankhurst died in 1928, shortly before women were given the right to vote.

Early Life

In July 1858, Emma Goulden was born in Manchester, England. Growing up in a politically active family, she was the eldest of 10 children. Goulden’s parents were both abolitionists and female suffrage supporters. She was 14 when her mother took her to her first women’s suffrage meeting. Goulden, however, was disappointed that her parents prioritized their sons’ education over hers.

Beginning of her Political Activism

In 1878, Goulden returned to Manchester, where she met Dr. Richard Pankhurst. Richard was an attorney who supported many radical causes, including women’s suffrage. Goulden married Pankhurst in December 1879, although he was 24 years older than her.

Pankhurst gave birth to five children over the next decade.  Pankhurst campaigned for her husband during his unsuccessful runs for Parliament and hosted political meetings at their house despite having children and other household responsibilities.

Women’s Franchise League, founded in 1889, aimed to empower all women (at the time, some organizations only sought the vote for widows and single women). Pankhurst was one of the early supporters of the Women’s Franchise League. Pankhurst’s husband encouraged her in these endeavors until he died in 1898.

The rise of Suffragettes

Pankhurst’s daughter Christabel and fellow WSPU member Annie Kenney attended a meeting to demand that the Liberal Party support women’s suffrage. Police arrested both women following a confrontation with them. Pankhurst based the WSPU’s more combative stance on the attention and interest that followed her arrest. In the next few years, Pankhurst encouraged WSPU members to halt their demonstrations when a bill regarding women’s suffrage looked possible to pass. however, the Conciliation Bills that included women’s suffrage failed to advance WSPU protested again. By 1913, WSPU members had broken windows, vandalized public art, and set fires.

The suffragettes were arrested throughout these protests, but in 1909 they began to engage in hunger strikes. The hunger strikes resulted in violent force-feeding, but many suffragettes were released early because of the strike. The same year Pankhurst was jailed for nine months for throwing a rock at the prime minister’s residence, she began a hunger strike. However, she was soon released.

Pankhurst was sentenced to three years of penal servitude for inciting the crime that led to an incendiary device going off in an unoccupied house being built for chancellor of the exchequer, David Lloyd George. A hunger strike led to Pankhurst’s release, but the Cat and Mouse Act triggered a series of re-arrests and releases. During a furlough, she toured the United States for fund-raising and lecturing, which continued past 1914. Then came World War I, and everything changed.

World War I and the Right to Vote

To secure their right to vote, Pankhurst called a halt to militancy and demonstrations. Pankhurst encouraged women to join the war effort and fill factory jobs so that men could fight on the front, so the government released all WSPU prisoners.

We are here, not because we are law-breakers; we are here in our efforts to become law-makers.

British women’s contributions during the WWI helped convince the government to grant them limited voting rights-for those who met a property requirement and were 30 years of age. A second bill cleared the way for women to be elected to Parliament later that year.

Pankhurst’s daughters were all members of the WSPU at some point, but she could only reunite with Christabel to celebrate (limited) suffrage. Her daughter, Adela, moved to Australia while Sylvia disagreed with Pankhurst’s stance on the war.

After the war, Pankhurst’s politics changed, but she still wanted universal suffrage for women. Concerned about the rise of Bolshevism, she joined the Conservative Party. As a Conservative, Pankhurst even ran for Parliament, but her campaign was disrupted by illness. On June 14, 1928, Pankhurst died in London at the age of 69.

On July 2, 1928, Parliament gave women the same voting rights as men. Pankhurst did not live to see it.

Below are some historical photos that offer a glimpse into the life of Emmeline Pankhurst.

#1 Emmeline Panklhurst, 1895.

Emmeline Panklhurst, 1895.

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#2 Mrs. Pankhurst has just left London accompanied by Miss Christopher St. John and Miss Craig, daughter of Ellen Terry.

Mrs. Pankhurst has just left London accompanied by Miss Christopher St. John and Miss Craig, daughter of Ellen Terry.

The car is driven by Miss Vera Holmes as it left Kingsway.

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#3 Emmeline Pankhurst with Friends, 1890.

Emmeline Pankhurst with Friends, 1890.

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#4 Emmeline Pankhurst is force-fed through the nose during a hunger strike in prison.

Emmeline Pankhurst is force-fed through the nose during a hunger strike in prison.

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#5 Emmeline Pankhurst surrounded by police officers, 1900.

Emmeline Pankhurst surrounded by police officers, 1900.

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#6 Emmeline Pankhurst with Lucy Burns and other American suffragettes.

Emmeline Pankhurst with Lucy Burns and other American suffragettes.

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#7 Emmeline Pankhurst pauses in her reading for a portrait.

Emmeline Pankhurst pauses in her reading for a portrait.

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#8 Emmeline Pankhurst standing with a group of men.

Emmeline Pankhurst standing with a group of men.

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#9 Emmeline Pankhurst is arrested for the eigth time in three years, 1914.

Emmeline Pankhurst is arrested for the eigth time in three years, 1914.

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#10 Sylvia Pankhurst the daughter of Emmeline Pankhurst.

Sylvia Pankhurst the daughter of Emmeline Pankhurst.

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#11 Emmeline Pankhurst Collapsing, 1913.

Emmeline Pankhurst Collapsing, 1913.

Confined to a nursing home, after forcible feeding in jail had undermined her health, Mrs. Emmeline Pankhurst tried to flee and was intercepted by detectives. Here she is in a state of semi-collapse in the arms of a friend, while a detective interrogates her just after she left the nursing home.

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#12 Police prevent suffragist Emmeline Pankhurst and her two daughters (left to right) Chistabel and Sylvia from entering Buckingham Palace to present a petition to the King.

Police prevent suffragist Emmeline Pankhurst and her two daughters (left to right) Chistabel and Sylvia from entering Buckingham Palace to present a petition to the King.

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#13 Emmeling Pankhurst with Mrs Hudson, 1910s.

Emmeling Pankhurst with Mrs Hudson, 1910s.

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#14 Emmeline Pankhurst and her daughter Christabel whilst in prison for their militant campaigning, 1908.

Emmeline Pankhurst and her daughter Christabel whilst in prison for their militant campaigning, 1908.

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#15 Emmeline Pankhurst protesting, 1908.

Emmeline Pankhurst protesting, 1908.

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#16 Emmeline Pankhurst when she was young.

Emmeline Pankhurst when she was young.

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#17 Emmeline Pankhurst standing for portrait.

Emmeline Pankhurst standing for portrait.

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#18 Christobal Pankhurst, daughter of Emmeline Pankhurst, standing at Newsstand, 1901.

Christobal Pankhurst, daughter of Emmeline Pankhurst, standing at Newsstand, 1901.

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#19 Emmeline Pankhurst with her daughter Christabel, 1903.

Emmeline Pankhurst with her daughter Christabel, 1903.

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#20 Emmeline Pankhurst, 1905.

Emmeline Pankhurst, 1905.

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#21 Emmeline Pankhurst was imprisoned there, 1908.

Emmeline Pankhurst was imprisoned there, 1908.

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#22 Christabel Pankhurst taking part in a Suffragette protest outside Bow Street Police Station, 1908.

Christabel Pankhurst taking part in a Suffragette protest outside Bow Street Police Station, 1908.

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#23 Daisy Dugdale leading the procession to welcome Emmeline and Christabel Pankhurst, London, 1908.

Daisy Dugdale leading the procession to welcome Emmeline and Christabel Pankhurst, London, 1908.

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#24 Emmeline & Christabel Pankhurst released from Holloway Gaol, London, 1908.

Emmeline & Christabel Pankhurst released from Holloway Gaol, London, 1908.

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#25 A meeting at Caxton Hall prior to the ‘Rush the House of Commons’ demonstration, October 1908.

A meeting at Caxton Hall prior to the 'Rush the House of Commons' demonstration, October 1908.

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#26 Ex-suffragette prisoners, wearing replica prison clothing, advertise a ‘protest meeting’ to be held outside Holloway Gaol, 7th November 1908.

Ex-suffragette prisoners, wearing replica prison clothing, advertise a 'protest meeting' to be held outside Holloway Gaol, 7th November 1908.

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#27 Emmeline Pankhurst British Suffragette Leader carrying a Petition London 13 February 1908.

Emmeline Pankhurst British Suffragette Leader carrying a Petition London 13 February 1908.

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#28 Emmeline and Christabel Pankhurst British Suffragettes London, 1908.

Emmeline and Christabel Pankhurst British Suffragettes London, 1908.

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#29 Emmeline Pankhurst, in a cell in Holloway Prison, London, 1908.

Emmeline Pankhurst, in a cell in Holloway Prison, London, 1908.

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#30 Christabel Pankhurst And Emmeline Pethick, 1908.

Christabel Pankhurst And Emmeline Pethick, 1908.

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#31 Emmeline Pankhurst (second right) with her daughter Christabel and other suffragette leaders at a meeting at Clements Inn in 1908.

Emmeline Pankhurst (second right) with her daughter Christabel and other suffragette leaders at a meeting at Clements Inn in 1908.

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#32 Suffragettes Flora Drummond, Emmeline Pankhurst and Christabel Pankhurst, listening to Inspector Jarvis reading an arrest warrant.

Suffragettes Flora Drummond, Emmeline Pankhurst and Christabel Pankhurst, listening to Inspector Jarvis reading an arrest warrant.

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#33 Emmeline Pankhurst and one of her daughters are welcomed to a meeting of fellow suffragettes with banners and flowers.

Emmeline Pankhurst and one of her daughters are welcomed to a meeting of fellow suffragettes with banners and flowers.

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#34 Emmeline Pankhurst and her daughter Christabel , the English suffragettes, with some of their supporters on their release from prison, 1908.

Emmeline Pankhurst and her daughter Christabel , the English suffragettes, with some of their supporters on their release from prison, 1908.

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#35 Suffragette advertising a march supporting votes for women, Strand, London, 1909.

Suffragette advertising a march supporting votes for women, Strand, London, 1909.

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#36 A group of suffragettes on board a cart advertising the newspaper Votes for Women, containing articles by Emmeline Pankhurst.

A group of suffragettes on board a cart advertising the newspaper Votes for Women, containing articles by Emmeline Pankhurst.

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#37 Emmeline Pankhurst, 1910s.

Emmeline Pankhurst, 1910s.

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#38 The suffragette Christabel Harriette Pankhurst, 1910.

The suffragette Christabel Harriette Pankhurst, 1910.

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#39 Emmeline Pankhurst with her friend, 1911.

Emmeline Pankhurst with her friend, 1911.

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#40 Emmeline Pankhurst being jeered by a crowd in New York.

Emmeline Pankhurst being jeered by a crowd in New York.

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#41 Emmeline, Christabel and Sylvia Pankhurst, Waterloo Station, London, 1911.

Emmeline, Christabel and Sylvia Pankhurst, Waterloo Station, London, 1911.

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#42 Emmeline Pankhurst with her daughter Christabel , 1910s.

Emmeline Pankhurst with her daughter Christabel , 1910s.

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#43 Christabel Pankhurst and Emmeline Pethick-Lawrence buying heather, 1910.

Christabel Pankhurst and Emmeline Pethick-Lawrence buying heather, 1910.

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#44 Emmeline Pankhurst at her eleventh arrest is taken by the police officer, 1911.

Emmeline Pankhurst at her eleventh arrest is taken by the police officer, 1911.

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#45 Emmeline Pankhurst leads a suffragette parade through London, with the protesters all dressed in white.

Emmeline Pankhurst leads a suffragette parade through London, with the protesters all dressed in white.

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#46 Emmeline Pankhurst addresses a crowd on Wall Street, New York, November 1911.

Emmeline Pankhurst addresses a crowd on Wall Street, New York, November 1911.

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#47 Emmeline Pankhurst with Lucy Burns in Washington, 1912.

Emmeline Pankhurst with Lucy Burns in Washington, 1912.

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#48 Emmeline Pankhurst, 1912.

Emmeline Pankhurst, 1912.

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#49 Emmeline Pankhurst, 1913.

Emmeline Pankhurst, 1913.

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#50 Emmeline Pankhurst leaves the court at Epsom with James Murray, a former member of parliament who stood bail for her.

Emmeline Pankhurst leaves the court at Epsom with James Murray, a former member of parliament who stood bail for her.

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#51 Emmeline Pankhurst in the area of New York known as the Battery, after her release from Ellis Island.

Emmeline Pankhurst in the area of New York known as the Battery, after her release from Ellis Island.

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#52 Emmeline Pankhurst with her friend, 1913.

Emmeline Pankhurst with her friend, 1913.

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#53 Emmeline Pankhurst being arrested in Britain. 1913.

Emmeline Pankhurst being arrested in Britain. 1913.

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#54 Emmeline Pankhurst is arrested and carried away by Superintendent Rolfe at a march, organised by Pankhurst, to petition King George V, London, 21st May 1914.

Emmeline Pankhurst is arrested and carried away by Superintendent Rolfe at a march, organised by Pankhurst, to petition King George V, London, 21st May 1914.

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#55 Two suffragettes advertising a meeting at which Emmeline Pankhurst will speak, 1914.

Two suffragettes advertising a meeting at which Emmeline Pankhurst will speak, 1914.

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#56 Emmeline Pankhurst with the four war orphans whom she adopted, 1915.

Emmeline Pankhurst with the four war orphans whom she adopted, 1915.

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#57 Emmeline Pankhurst touring South Wales lecturing on ‘How to win the War’, 1915.

Emmeline Pankhurst touring South Wales lecturing on 'How to win the War', 1915.

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#58 Emmeline Pankurst with Long Coat, 1915.

Emmeline Pankurst with Long Coat, 1915.

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#59 Emmeline Pankhurst Seated and Smiling, 1915.

Emmeline Pankhurst Seated and Smiling, 1915.

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#60 Emmeline Pankhurst talking to one of the women street car conductors.

Emmeline Pankhurst talking to one of the women street car conductors.

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#61 Emmeline Pankhurst Reading the New York American in Manhattan Hotel Apt, 1916.

Emmeline Pankhurst Reading the New York American in Manhattan Hotel Apt, 1916.

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Written by Benjamin Grayson

Former Bouquet seller now making a go with blogging and graphic designing. I love creating & composing history articles and lists.

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