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Born: 1836 Died: 1917 Occupation: doctor Claims to fame: first female doctor to qualify in the UK; also town mayor of Aldeburgh – the first female town mayor in England Becoming a doctor Elizabeth Garrett was born in London and later lived in Suffolk. She had several siblings, one of...

Born: 1891 Died: 1972 Occupation: social campaigner Claims to fame: one of the most famous women pursued by the police as a suffragette, with wanted posters of her Her background Lilian grew up in Leicester and trained as a professional dancer. She was inspired to join the WSPU after hearing...

Born: 1824 Died: 1894 Occupation: lecturer and doctor Claims to fame: she was an abolitionist and a suffragist Her background Sarah was born in Salem, Massachusetts in the USA into a family of successful businesspeople, entrepreneurs and anti-slavery campaigners. Despite being born free, her parents had experienced racism and were...

Born: 1831 Died: 1903 Occupation: journalist and writer Claims to fame: one of the early female writers on a newspaper Her background Isa was born in Edinburgh, the only child of John Craig, a glove-maker who died when she was young. She left school aged ten, probably to find work...

Born: 1875 Died: 1953 Occupation: social campaigner Claims to fame: used her wheelchair to distribute leaflets and parade the WSPU colours Her background May (as she preferred to be called) was from Lewisham in London and joined the WSPU in 1907. She had polio as a child, leaving her partially...

Born: 1876 Died: 1948 Occupation: socialite, nurse and campaigner Claims to fame: involvement in ‘Black Friday’, high social class and background, tendency towards militant activity Her background Sophia’s father was the last Maharaja of the Sikh Empire in India and she was born a princess. British rule in India meant...

Born: 1865 Died: 1959 Occupation: artist and writer Claims to fame: originated the idea of the 1911 census boycott Early life Laurence Housman was born in Bromsgrove, in a middle-class family. He was close to his sister, Clemence. In 1909, Laurence and Clemence helped to found the Suffrage Atelier (SA)....

Anna 1828–1914; Mary 1830–1914 Occupation: social campaigners Claims to fame: formed the WLA in Bristol In the north-east of England Sisters Anna and Mary Priestman were born in Newcastle. Their family were Quakers and active in social reform, such as anti-slavery movements. As girls, they helped their mother by sewing...

Born: 1864 Died: 1954 Occupation: factory worker, mother, campaigner Claims to fame: founded the first London Branch of the WSPU Her background Minnie Rogers was born into a poor family in Bow, East London. She worked in the hard conditions of a factory from a young age to support herself....

Born: 1833 Died: 1918 Occupation: teacher and reformer Claims to fame: key campaigner, Married Women’s Property Act 1882 Her background Elizabeth was born in Manchester. She left school aged 16 and worked as a governess, then set up a girls’ school. She became a passionate advocate for girls’ education. In...