She was a British political activist and leader of the British women’s rights movement. She fought for women to gain social and political rights and the right to vote.

She was born in 1858 in Manchester into a politically active family. At the age of 14 she came into contact with the women’s movement.

In 1879 she married a lawyer who was 20 years her senior. Together they had 5 children. He also supported women’s rights. In 1884 they founded the Women’s Franchise League together.

In 1903 she founded the all-female Women’s Social and Political Union. She, her daughters and other members were repeatedly arrested for assaults in their efforts to advance their positions.

During World War I they organized women to support industry to withstand the German threat.

She then founded a party for the equality of the 2 sexes in public life.

She died in 1928 in London at the same time that women over 21 were getting the right to vote.

There is a bust of her in the Victoria Tower Garden. In 1999 TIME magazine ranked her among the 100 most important people of the 20nd century.

[Source: en.wikipedia.org]