Emmeline Pankhurst was a political activist and suffragette leader in the United Kingdom, known for her role in the fight for women's suffrage during the early 20th century. Born on July 15, 1858, in Manchester, England, she was a key figure in the **Women's Social and Political Union (WSPU)**, an organization she co-founded with her daughters Christabel and Sylvia in 1903. The WSPU was known for its militant tactics, which included protests, hunger strikes, and even acts of arson and vandalism, to draw attention to the cause of women's right to vote.

Pankhurst's activism was rooted in her experiences growing up in a politically active family and her work with various socialist and women's rights organizations. She was particularly influenced by the Independent Labour Party (ILP), which advocated for women's suffrage among other social reforms.

Under Pankhurst's leadership, the WSPU organized several high-profile events and campaigns, including the Kaiser Wilhelm II incident in 1913, where Emily Wilding Davison was fatally injured after being struck by the King's horse during the Derby. This event brought significant attention to the suffragette movement.

Her efforts, along with those of many other suffragettes, eventually led to the Representation of the People Act in 1918, which granted the right to vote to women over the age of 30 who met certain property qualifications. It wasn't until the Equal Franchise Act of 1928 that women received equal voting rights with men.

Emmeline Pankhurst passed away on June 14, 1928, but her legacy as a champion for women's rights and her impact on the suffrage movement has made her a symbol of women's rights activism.

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Emmeline Pankhurst (n��e Goulden; 15 July 1858 �C 14 June 1928) was a British political activist and leader of the British suffragette movement who helped women win the right to vote.read more >>