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Born: 1847 Died: 1929 Occupation: Women’s suffrage campaigner Claim to fame: Led the largest law-abiding suffrage society, the National Union of Women’s Suffrage Societies (NUWSS) Millicent Garrett was born in Aldeburgh, Suffolk, the younger sister to Elizabeth Garrett Anderson. In 1867, Millicent married Henry Fawcett, a professor of political economy...

Born: 1878    Died: 1964    Occupation: Cotton mill worker Claim to fame: She wrote a diary while in prison of her suffragist activities Mary Ann was born in Lancashire in 1878, becoming a cotton mill worker at the age of ten. In 1900, she married Francis Rawle, an iron turner, with...

Born: 1871    Died: 1950?    Occupation: Working woman Claim to fame: She was a working-class campaigner with a physical disability Adelaide Knight came from a tough working-class background in Bethnal Green, London. Her father, a hairdresser and alcoholic, committed suicide when she was young and she suffered from an injury as...

Born: 1863    Died: 1947    Occupation: Factory worker Claim to fame: Helped to establish the Leicester branch of the WSPU and was arrested five times Alice Riley was born into a working- class family in Staffordshire. She left school at13 to work in a shoe factory in Leicester. In 1882, she...

Born: 1830 Died: 1921 Occupation: Social campaigner, writer Claims to fame: Campaigner for the improvement of women’s education. She became one of the first mistresses of Girton College. Early life Originally from Southampton, Emily moved with her family to Gateshead in the north-east of England when she was young. There she established...

Born: 1820 Died: 1873 Occupation: Businessman Claim to fame: A male campaigner active in the early suffrage movement George was born in Trieste, Austria, and moved to England in 1845, becoming a successful merchant – so successful that he survived an ‘assassination’ attempt by a jealous business rival! George settled...

Born: 1864 Died: 1946 Occupation: Mill worker and magistrate, suffrage campaigner Claim to fame: Selina was a prominent working class campaigner in the women’s suffrage movement, particularly through her involvement with textile workers. She was later sponsored by Women Against War and Fascism in 1934 to visit Germany and report...

Born: 1827  Died: 1891  Occupation: Artist Claim to fame: She helped to change the law for women who were married to keep their own property and belongings. Background Barbara Leigh Smith was one of the early advocates for women’s rights. She was the daughter of the radical Liberal MP Benjamin...

Born: 1881 Died: 1969 Occupation: Actor Claim to fame: Vera was an actor known for playing with gender identities; she was a lesbian and performed in cross-dress. She was also known for being the Pankhursts’ chauffeur. Background Vera was born in Lancashire and her father was a timber merchant. She...

Born: 1881 Died: 1975 Occupation: Teacher of Mathematics Claim to fame: Middlesbrough’s first female councillor. Background Alice was born in Cleveland but her parents were poor and sent her to Manchester to be brought up by her aunt and uncle. She became a mathematics teacher and, while supporting a friend...