Miss Caroline Ashurst Biggs

Other sources: https://www.parliament.uk/1866
Elizabeth Crawford, The Women's Suffrage Movement: A Reference Guide, 1866?1928 (2001)

Family information: Daughter of Matilda Ashurst Biggs and Joseph Biggs, who were suffrage and social reform campaigners. Caroline's mother and sister also signed the 1866 petition.

Additional Information: Aside from signing the 1866 petition, Caroline spoke at the London NSWS first public meeting in 1869. She also subscribed to the Manchester NSWS in 1870. She resigned from the London NSWS over internal disagreements and joined the Central Committee of the NSWS (CCNSWS), on whose executive committee she remained until her death. She was an active speaker for them at a time when it was still unusual for women to speak in public. She edited a number of feminist and suffrage works, including the Englishwoman's Review from 1871 until her death and a series of pamphlets, 'Suffrage Stories',in 1882. She wrote several pamphlets, including 'Ought Women to have a Vote for Members of Parliament?', and a chapter for History of Women's Suffrage III in 1886.

Other Suffrage Activities: In 1867, Caroline gave a donation to the Society for the Promotion of the Employment of Women for its Apprenticeship Fund. In 1881, she was co-founder of the Society for Promoting the Return of Women as Poor Law Guardians and, in 1886, was involved in forming the Local Electors Association. She was also one of the first London members of the Women's Liberal Unionist Association.