Emily Davison

Emily Wilding Davison by Andrew William Dron

Emily Davison
Emily Davison in 1912
Born	Emily Wilding Davison (1872-10-11)October 11, 1872 Blackheath, London, England
Died	June 8, 1913(1913-06-08) (aged 40) Epsom, Surrey, England
Education	Royal Holloway College, St Hugh's College, Oxford
Occupation	Teacher, governess, activist
Known for	Suffragette who died after stepping in front of King George V's horse

Emily Wilding Davison (11 October 1872 – 8 June 1913) was an English suffragette who fought for women's right to vote in the United Kingdom. She was a member of the Women's Social and Political Union (WSPU) and is best known for her tragic death after stepping in front of King George V's horse, Anmer, at the Epsom Derby on 4 June 1913.

Early life and education

Emily Davison was born in Blackheath, London, to Charles Davison and Margaret Davison (née Caisley). She was educated at Royal Holloway College and later at St Hugh's College, Oxford, where she studied English literature. Despite excelling academically, she was unable to graduate from Oxford because women were not allowed to receive degrees at that time.

Activism

Davison joined the Women's Social and Political Union (WSPU) in 1906, an organization led by Emmeline Pankhurst and her daughters, Christabel and Sylvia Pankhurst. The WSPU was known for its militant tactics, which included protests, hunger strikes, and acts of civil disobedience.

Imprisonment and hunger strikes

Throughout her activism, Davison was arrested and imprisoned multiple times. She was known for her extreme dedication to the cause, which included going on hunger strikes while in prison. During these strikes, she was subjected to force-feeding, a common practice used to break the will of suffragettes.

Notable incidents

In 1911, Davison hid in a cupboard in the Palace of Westminster on the night of the census, so she could record her place of residence as the House of Commons. This act was symbolic of her desire for women to have a place in the political sphere.

Death and legacy

On 4 June 1913, during the Epsom Derby, Davison stepped onto the racecourse and was struck by King George V's horse, Anmer. She suffered severe injuries and died four days later on 8 June 1913. Her death brought significant attention to the suffrage movement.

Davison's funeral on 14 June 1913 was a large public event, attended by thousands of suffragettes and supporters. She is buried in St Mary's Churchyard in Morpeth, Northumberland, with the epitaph "Deeds not words," a motto of the WSPU.

See also

• Women's suffrage in the United Kingdom
• Emmeline Pankhurst
• Christabel Pankhurst
• Sylvia Pankhurst
• Women's Social and Political Union
• Epsom Derby