Emmeline Pankhurst

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Emmeline Pankhurst (1858-1928) was the leader of the militant British women’s suffragette movement. Growing up in a politically radical family, she founded the Women's Social and Political Union (WSPU) for the empowerment of women in 1903. Supported by her daughters Christabel, Sylvia and Adela, they fought against the social convention that husbands could vote for their wives. In 1912, tired of being ignored, the WSPU turned to extreme militancy to ensure government and media attention. Under the slogan 'Deeds not Words' they adopted guerrilla methods of political warfare: window smashing, stone throwing, letter-box burning and petty arson. They were also known to post themselves as ‘human letters’ to members of parliament. In May 1912, Pankhurst and other leaders of the WSPU were put on trial for conspiracy to incite violence. The international petition against their imprisonment was signed by many influential people including Marie Curie, the famous scientist. The image for the First Class stamp is taken from the oil portrait of Pankhurst painted by fellow suffragette Georgina Agnes Brackenbury in 1927. The stamp was issued on the 18th July 2006 to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the National Portrait Gallery. Pankhurst died on the 14th June 1928, the same year women won the equal right to vote alongside men. One of the pall bearers at her funeral was Georgina Agnes Brackenbury. Special thanks to Museum Volunteer Lenka Cathersides for helping with the research of Emmeline Pankhurst.