59 women and men who fought for women’s suffrage are to feature on the plinth of the historic statue
Announcement marks 100 years since the first women secured the right to vote in the UK
A specially-commissioned exhibition featuring life-sized images of women and men on the plinth of the statue is taking place in Trafalgar Square today
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, today revealed that artist Gillian Wearing’s Millicent Fawcett statue is set to feature names and portraits of women and men who were central to the suffrage movement.
Later this spring, the statue of suffragist leader Millicent Fawcett in Parliament Square will be unveiled, the first-ever monument to a woman to stand within the central London location.
On the centenary of the 1918 Representation of the People Act (6 February), a landmark victory which gave the first women the right to vote, Sadiq Khan revealed the names of the 59 women and men who will feature on the plinth of the statue. They were all people who dedicated themselves to women’s suffrage and, through their campaigning, helped secure the vote.
To celebrate and highlight the contribution made by the women and men featured on the statue, a specially-commissioned exhibition is taking place in Trafalgar Square today to mark the centenary of the 1918 Representation of the People Act. The exhibition titled ‘Make a Stand’ features life-sized images of men and women included on the plinth of the statue, with images sourced from the Museum of London, LSE, the National Portrait Gallery, the Women’s Library and from other archives and private collections.
The list was compiled by a group of historians, specialists in Women’s History and Suffragette history, the artist Gillian Wearing OBE and a curator from the 14-18 NOW programme with the Mayor’s Office. The names are representative of the geographic, economic and cultural spread of people who made women""s suffrage a possibility after many years of campaigning.
Alongside the photographic figures there will be handmade cloth banners featuring iconic slogans of the campaign for the vote, such as ‘deeds not words’. The figures are set against the backdrop of Trafalgar Square, which 100 years ago was an important location for many of the rallies and marches that took place in the struggle to secure the right to vote.
The plinth of the historic statue will include well-known figures like the Pankhursts and Emily Wilding Davison as well as many unsung heroes including:
Lydia Becker, who was President of the NUWSS prior to Millicent Fawcett and campaigned for the voting rights of unmarried women and widows.
Ada Nield Chew, a working-class factory worker who promoted women’s trade unions and was one of the first Clarion Van speakers.
Henrietta Franklin, who was an education reformer and leader of the Jewish League for Woman Suffrage.
Edith How-Martyn, who campaigned for birth control and was a key figure in Suffragette Fellowship.
Lolita Roy, who was President of the London Indian Union from 1908.
Louisa Garett Anderson, a medical pioneer who founded the Women’s Hospital Corps.
Rosa May Billinghurst, a suffragette who was part of Christabel Pankhurst’s campaign in the 1918 election. She survived polio and campaigned for the Women’s Social and Political Union in a modified tricycle or on crutches.
Annie Kenney, a working-class mill worker who became a leading figure in the Women""s Social and Political Union, campaigning in Bristol.
Sophia Duleep Singh, a member of the Women""s Social and Political Union who campaigned for votes for women. She led a 400-strong demonstration to parliament together with Mrs Pankhurst, and she was the daughter of Maharaja Duleep Singh, the last Maharaja of the Sikh Empire.
Jessie Craigen, a working-class speaker. Despite researcher’s best efforts an image of her could not be found, so she is represented as a name without a picture on the statue plinth. Perhaps during this process of highlighting her story, a photo of her will come to light.
The plinth will also feature some of the men who campaigned for women’s suffrage, including Laurence Housman, the founding member of the Men’s League for Women’s Suffrage, and George Lansbury, one of the most well-known male supporters of women’s suffrage in Britain – he helped form the East London Federation of Suffragettes which his daughter-in-law Minnie Lansbury also joined.
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “6 February marks an important moment in the history of our city - 100 years since the 1918 Representation of the People Act was passed which gave the first women the right to vote. As part of our #BehindEveryGreatCity campaign I’m really proud to unveil the women and men whose names and portraits will be etched on the plinth of the Millicent Fawcett statue – which will be the first statue of a woman in Parliament Square.
“The plinth will include well-known figures of the suffrage movement as well as those that are less well known. This is an important step in ensuring we highlight the contribution to gender equality made by these 59 women and men.”
Deputy Mayor for Culture and the Creative Industries, Justine Simons, OBE, said: “One hundred years ago today, women who campaigned for the right to vote secured a landmark victory against a system that denied them their fundamental democratic rights. To mark this historic achievement, I am delighted we can announce the names of the 59 women and men who will feature on Gillian Wearing’s statue of Millicent Fawcett. These people fought tirelessly for women’s right to vote and while some of the names are well known, others have been too often overlooked. Through Gillian’s work we will shine a light on their role and inspire Londoners in our continued fight for gender equality.
“The campaign for gender equality has achieved so much over the past 100 years but it is clear there is still a long way to go. We want to honour this moment by bringing these key figures out of the archives in to Trafalgar Square, on the same spot where major speeches took place 100 years ago. This year, together with organisations and industries across London, we will spread the message that Behind Every Great City are women and girls from all walks of life, contributing hugely to the success of our capital.”
Artist Gillian Wearing OBE said: “I am delighted to reveal the names of the women and men who will feature on the plinth of Millicent Fawcett""s statue. These were all incredible people and by honouring them in Parliament Square, I believe they will continue to inspire generations to come.”
Sam Smethers, Chief Executive of the Fawcett Society, said: “It is absolutely right that the Millicent Fawcett statue will honour the whole suffrage movement, so we are delighted to see that women and men, the suffragists and suffragettes who stood together and campaigned for votes for women will again be standing together as part of this memorial.
“As we mark 100 years of women’s votes we must resolve to change women’s lives today and tomorrow by ending the sexism, violence and discrimination they experience.”
Jenny Waldman, Director of 14-18 NOW, the UK’s arts programme for the First World War centenary, said: “14-18 NOW is delighted to commission this new work by Gillian Wearing, the first-ever statue of a woman in Parliament Square. The statue is a powerful way to remember the work of Millicent Fawcett and acknowledge the contributions of the many other people involved in the struggle for universal suffrage. 14-18 NOW’s 2018 season is an ambitious and interactive programme, which we hope will reach new audiences in new ways with events across the UK featuring artists who are reinventing the war memorial as living art that captures our imagination and rests in our memories.”
The statue is being created by Turner Prize-winning artist Gillian Wearing OBE after being commissioned by the Mayor with 14-18 NOW, Firstsite and Inivia. This follows Caroline Criado-Perez’s successful campaign for a statue of a woman in Parliament Square. The statue is being funded through the Government’s national centenary fund.
It is being unveiled as part of the Mayor’s major #BehindEveryGreatCity campaign across 2018 to celebrate the role London played in the movement and to drive gender equality across the capital. The campaign champions the fact that it is the achievements and contributions of women, from all walks of life, which make cities like London great. The campaign slogan #BehindEveryGreatCity is a deliberate play on the feminist slogan used globally in the 60s and 70s, ‘Behind every great man stands a great woman’ and highlights that women instead power great cities.
Throughout 2018, the campaign will highlight London’s story in the history of the women’s suffrage and equality movement, celebrating significant milestones and achievements while identifying and tackling barriers to women fulfilling their potential today. A range of events and celebrations will take place throughout the year, such as at The Museum of London, the home of the world’s largest Suffragette collection.
The Mayor will use the centenary of the Representation of the People Act this year to work with London’s many leading industries – from culture, education and business, to politics and public life – to support the continuing success of women and to push for greater gender equality for women from all backgrounds across the city.
Key facts and dates
1918 - Representation of the People Act
1918 - The Representation of the People Act is passed on 6 February giving women the vote provided they are aged over 30 and either they, or their husband, meet a property qualification
1918 - The Parliament (Qualification of Women) Act is passed on 21 November allowing women to stand for Parliament
1918 - Women vote in a general election for the first time on 14 December with 8.5 million women eligible
1928 - The Equal Franchise Act is passed giving women equal voting rights with men. All women aged over 21 can now vote in elections. Fifteen million women are eligible.
1929 - On 30 May women aged between 21 and 29 vote for the first time. This general election is sometimes referred to as the Flapper Election
FULL LIST OF NAMES
NAME
DATES
AFFILIATION
REGION
COMMENTS
1
Louisa Garrett Anderson
1873-1943
WSPU/1912imprisoned in Holloway Prison for suffragette activities
London
Medical pioneer, founded Women’s Hospital Corps, Chief Surgeon of Endell Street Military Hospital. Daughter of Elizabeth Garrett Anderson the first woman to qualify as a physician and surgeon and the niece of Millicent Fawcett.
2
Dame Margery Irene Corbett Ashby
1882-1981
NUWSS
London
Liberal politician, and internationalist. Secretary of NUWSS and later President of the International Women’s Suffrage Alliance. Supporter of the WLM in 70s.
3
Margaret Ashton
1856-1937
NUWSS/WLF
Manchester
Manchester-based, WLF, Women’s Trade Union League, member of NUWSS, and chairperson of the North of England Society for Women’s Suffrage. Manchester’s first woman councillor. Active in women’s peace campaigns during First World War.
4
Minnie Baldock
1864-1954
WSPU
London
ILP member and one of the WSPU’s first London members, involved in setting up Canning Town branch, worked as WSPU organiser. Stopped active militant work when her health broke down c.1911 but retained membership of Church League for Women’s Suffrage. Later active in Suffragette Fellowship.
5
Lady Frances Balfour
1858-1931
NUWSS
London
Liberal Women’s Suffrage Society and was on the executive committee of the NUWSS.
6
Lydia Becker
1827-1890
NUWSS
Manchester
President of NUWSS prior to Millicent Fawcett, argued for the voting rights of unmarried women and widows.
7
Rosa May Billinghurst
1875-1953
WSPU / WLF
London Lewisham
Worked for the Women’s Party and for Christabel Pankhurst’s campaign in the 1918 election then later joined Women’s Freedom League and Suffragette Fellowship, disabled and featured in iconic photographs when badly treated on WSPU demonstrations.
8
Helen Blackburn
1842-1903
NUWSS
Ireland/South West
Early campaigner for women’s rights particularly the rights of workers.
9
Nessie Stewart-Brown
1864-1958
NUWSS
North West
Co-founder of Liverpool Women’s Suffrage Society, and led Women’s Liberal Federation branches in Liverpool, and served on WLF executive; co-founder of Liverpool Women’s Citizens Association; anti-vivisectionist; city councillor; Liberal Party candidate 1922; early woman JP.
10
Ada Nield Chew
1870-1945
NUWSS
North West
Working-class, factory worker, promoter of women’s trade unions; ILP, one of first Clarion van speakers.
11
Frances Power Cobbe
1822-1904
London National Society for Womens’ Suffrage 1867
Ireland/ Wales
Irish social reformer, anti-vivisectionist, and suffragist Main activism was in earlier period around Mill’s petition and also campaign for Married Women’s Property Acts.
12
Jessie Craigen
1835-1899
Suffrage speaker around the country
North West
Working-class suffrage speaker.
13
Emily Wilding Davison
1872-1913
WSPU
London
WSPU itinerant worker / organizer, also worked at WSPU’s London offices. Died after being hit by George V’s horse at the Epsom Derby. On her death Millicent Fawcett Wrote the words, ‘Courage calls to courage everywhere, and its voice cannot be denied.
14
Charlotte Despard
1844-1939
WSPU/WFL
South East/Ireland
Irish social reformer, NUWSS and then WSPU from 1906 and then WFL, and later pacifist
15
Flora Drummond
1878-1949
WSPU
North West/Scotland
WSPU ‘General’, joined the Pankhursts’ Women’s Party in 1917.
16
Elizabeth Wolstenholme Elmy
1833-1918
Women’s Franchise League (only figure head in WSPU)
Manchester
Secretary of Married Women’s Property Committee, Secularist and sexual radical, lived in ‘free love’ union with Ben Elmy (reluctantly married when her pregnancy scandalized other feminists) Ladies’ National Association (which campaigned against the Contagious Diseases’ Acts) Honorary Secretary of Manchester Society for Women’s Suffrage, and founding member of Women’s Franchise League, and Women’s Emancipation Union, early member of WSPU and marched in many of its large demonstrations.
17
Isabella Ford
1855-1924
NUWSS
Leeds
Trade unionist and member of the ILP, helped found Leeds Women’s Suffrage Society; executive of the NUWSS, and pacifist.
18
Henrietta Franklin
1866-1964
Jewish League for Women’s Suffrage
London
Education reformer and leader of Jewish League for Woman Suffrage.
19
Mary Gawthorpe
1881-1973
WSPU
Leeds
Women’s Labour League then WSPU, co-founder of radical newspaper The Freewoman, later became union organizer & suffrage worked in USA after WW1.
20
Teresa Billington-Greig
1877-1964
WSPU / WFL
Lancashire
School teacher, one of first paid members of WSPU later co-founder of WFL.
21
Margaret Haig, Viscountess Rhondda
1883-1958
WSPU
Wales
WSPU, secretary of Newport branch, founder of Time and Tide and the Six Point Group, inherited father’s title and fought for rights of women to sit in House of Lords.
22
Anna Haslam
1829-1822
Irishwomen’s Suffrage and Local Government Association
Ireland
Co-founder of the Irishwomen’s Suffrage and Local Government Association.
23
Rev Claude Hinscliff
1875-1964
Church League for Women’s Suffrage
London
Member of Men’s League for Women’s Suffrage, founded the Church League for Women’s Suffrage with his wife Gertrude. He officiated at Emily Wilding Davison’s funeral.
24
Laurence Housman
1865-1959
Men""s League for Women""s Suffrage
London
Radical playwright, socialist, pacifist and founding member of the Men""s League for Women""s Suffrage.
25
Elsie Inglis
1864-1917
NUWSS
Scotland
Scottish doctor and suffragist. Women’s Liberal Federation and Federation of Scottish Suffrage Societies, founder Scottish Women’s Hospitals.
26
Annie Kenney
1879-1953
WSPU
North West /South West
Working-class, mill worker, WSPU, most of her WSPU career in Bristol
27/28
Minnie Lansbury
And George Lansbury
1889-1922
WSPU/ELFS
George was the most well-known male supporter of women’s suffrage in Britain and helped form the East London Federation of Suffragettes which Minnie joined.
29/30
Frederick and Emmeline Pethick-Lawrence
Frederick (1871-1961) Emmeline
(1867-1954)
WSPU / US
London
Editors of Votes for Women;
Provided the premises for WSPU offices in London in 1906. Ejected from WSPU in 1912, then joining United Suffragists.
31
Mary Lowndes
1856-1929
NUWSS
London
Artist founder of Artist Suffrage League in 1909.
32
Edith How-Martyn
1875-1954
WSPU / WFL
South West
Birth control campaigner, key figure in Suffragette Fellowship, post-war organization dedicated to collecting material about the militant suffrage campaign to promote its history.
33
Catherine Marshall
1880-1961
NUWSS
London/North West
International Women’s Suffrage Alliance, Liberal, pacifist
34
Mary MacArthur
1880-1921
Scotland
Scottish trade unionist and suffragist, National Federation of Women Workers. Parliamentary candidate in 1918.
35
Chrystal MacMillan
1872-1937
NUWSS
Scotland
Scottish Liberal politician, barrister, and NUWSS, and internationalist.
36
Eva McLaren
1852/53-1921
NUWSS/WFL
Yorkshire
A leading member of Women’s Liberal Federation
37
Priscilla Bright McLaren
1815-1906
NUWSS
Yorkshire
Anti-slavery movement and women’s suffrage. Executive member of NUWSS.
38
Edith Mansell-Moullin
1859-1941
Wales
Founded the Cymric Suffrage Union for Welsh women.
39
Dora Montefiore
1851-1933
NUWSS
South East
Served on executive of the NUWSS and then joined WSPU, and Women’s Tax Resistance League
40
Catherine Courtauld Osler
1854-1924
NUWSS
Birmingham
President of Birmingham Women’s Suffrage Society
41/42
43/44
The Pankhursts
WSPU
Emmeline, Christabel, Sylvia and Adela
45
Agnes Pochin
1825-1908
Cheshire
First woman to speak about women’s suffrage on a public platform.
46
Eleanor Rathbone
1872-1946
NUWSS
North West
Liverpool, charity work, NUWSS then NUSEC, first woman to be elected to Liverpool City Council, later Independent MP (for one of the University constituencies).
47
Sarah Reddish
1850-1928
NUWSS
North West
Bolton-based trade unionist
48
Annot Robinson
1874-1925
NUWSS
Scotland
Born in Scotland, NUWSS and pacifist.
49/50
Esther Roper and Eva Gore-Booth
Esther (1868-1938) Eva (1870-1926)—
NUWSS
Eva (Ireland)
Ester (North West)
Involved in Manchester suffrage movement. Eva Gore-Booth was the younger sister of Constance Gore-Booth, later known as the Countess Markievicz, who in turn was the first woman elected to the British House of Commons. As an Irish Nationalist, she did not take her seat.
51
Lolita Roy (mrs P L Roy)
1865-
President of the London Indian Union from 1908
52
Agnes Maude Royden
1876-1956
NUWSS / Church League for Women’s Suffrage
North West / London
Settlement work in Liverpool then London, NUWSS, edited Common Cause, Church League for Women’s Suffrage, preacher, pacifist, later campaigned for ordination of women.
53
Julia Scurr
1873-1927
ELFS/US
London
Socialist, Poor Law Guardian, East London Federation of Suffragettes, and then United Suffragists
54
Maud Lady Selborne
(1858-1950
London
Conservative and Unionist Women’s Franchise Association
55
Hanna Sheehy-Skeffington
1877-1946
Irish Women’s Franchise League
Ireland
Irish nationalist and suffragist. Founder of the Irish Women’s Franchise League
56
Sophia Duleep Singh
1876-1948
WSPU
Indian family, WSPU
57
Ray Strachey
1887-1940
NUWSS
London
Liberal, NUWSS, writer.
58
Helena Swanwick
1864-1939
NUWSS
North West
NUWSS, editor of Common Cause; internationalist, pacifist. Mainly metropolitan base.
59
Ellen Wilkinson
1891-1947
NUWSS
North West
NUWSS in Manchester, Labour Party, MP for Jarrow.