Christabel Pankhurst

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Christabel Pankhurst
Born	Christabel Harriette Pankhurst (1880-09-22)22 September 1880 Manchester, England
Died	13 February 1958(1958-02-13) (aged 77) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Nationality	British
Occupation	Suffragette, politician, author
Parent(s)	Emmeline Pankhurst (mother)
Relatives	Sylvia Pankhurst (sister), Adela Pankhurst (sister)

Christabel Harriette Pankhurst (22 September 1880 – 13 February 1958) was a British suffragette, politician, and author. She was a co-founder and key leader of the Women's Social and Political Union (WSPU), an organization that played a crucial role in the women's suffrage movement in the United Kingdom.

Early Life

Christabel Pankhurst was born in Manchester, England, to Emmeline Pankhurst and Richard Pankhurst. Her mother, Emmeline, was a prominent political activist and leader of the British suffragette movement, while her father, Richard, was a barrister known for his support of women's rights. Christabel had two sisters, Sylvia Pankhurst and Adela Pankhurst, both of whom were also active in the suffrage movement.

Education

Christabel attended Manchester High School for Girls and later studied law at the University of Manchester. She graduated with honors in 1906 but was unable to practice law due to her gender.

Women's Social and Political Union

In 1903, Christabel co-founded the Women's Social and Political Union (WSPU) with her mother, Emmeline. The WSPU was dedicated to securing women's suffrage through direct action and civil disobedience. Christabel quickly became a leading figure in the organization, known for her charismatic speeches and strategic planning.

Activism and Imprisonment

Christabel's activism often led to her arrest and imprisonment. In 1905, she and fellow suffragette Annie Kenney were arrested for disrupting a Liberal Party meeting to demand votes for women. This event marked the beginning of a more militant phase in the suffrage movement. Christabel was imprisoned multiple times, enduring harsh conditions and hunger strikes.

Exile and Later Life

In 1912, facing arrest, Christabel fled to France where she continued to direct WSPU activities from abroad. She returned to the UK in 1913 but was again forced to flee. During World War I, she supported the war effort, believing it would help women gain the vote.

After the war, Christabel moved to the United States, where she became involved in the Second Adventist movement and wrote several books on religious topics. She returned to the UK briefly in the 1930s but spent her final years in Los Angeles, California, where she died in 1958.

Legacy

Christabel Pankhurst's efforts were instrumental in securing the right to vote for women in the UK. Her leadership and dedication to the cause of women's suffrage left a lasting impact on the movement and on British society.

Related Pages

• Emmeline Pankhurst
• Sylvia Pankhurst
• Adela Pankhurst
• Women's Social and Political Union
• Women's suffrage in the United Kingdom
• Annie Kenney