Emmeline Pankhurst (1858 – 1928) was a British political activist and suffragette leader, who played a crucial role in securing women’s right to vote in the United Kingdom. As founder of the Women’s Social and Political Union (WSPU), she became known for her militant tactics, which sparked controversy but brought women’s suffrage into the public eye.
Born in Manchester, she was introduced to women’s rights activism at an early age. She married Richard Pankhurst, a lawyer advocating for women’s suffrage, and later founded the WSPU in 1903 under the motto "Deeds, not words". The group used protests, hunger strikes, and civil disobedience to demand voting rights. Arrested multiple times, she and fellow suffragettes endured force-feeding and harsh prison conditions.
With the outbreak of World War I, she suspended militant activism, urging women to support the war effort. In 1918, women over 30 gained the right to vote, and in 1928, just weeks before her death, suffrage was extended to all women over 21. Her legacy as a trailblazer in women’s rights remains influential, with statues and institutions honoring her achievements.