Leonora Cohen

Leonora Cohen OBE

Leonora Cohen (15 June 1873 – 4 September 1978) was a prominent British suffragette and trade unionist. She is best known for her militant activities in the fight for women's suffrage in the United Kingdom and her later work in the labour movement.

Early Life

Leonora Cohen was born Leonora Throp in Hunslet, Leeds, West Yorkshire. She was the daughter of Canova Throp, a sculptor, and Jane Throp. After her father's death when she was just five years old, her mother supported the family by running a lodging house. Leonora left school at the age of 12 to work as a milliner's apprentice.

Suffragette Activities

Cohen joined the Women's Social and Political Union (WSPU) in 1909, inspired by the speeches of Emmeline Pankhurst and Christabel Pankhurst. She quickly became involved in the militant activities of the WSPU, which included acts of civil disobedience and direct action.

In 1913, Cohen gained national attention when she smashed the display case containing the Crown Jewels in the Tower of London with an iron bar. This act of defiance was intended to draw attention to the suffragette cause and resulted in her arrest and imprisonment. Cohen's actions were part of a broader campaign of property damage orchestrated by the WSPU to pressure the government into granting women the right to vote.

Later Life and Trade Unionism

After the Representation of the People Act 1918 granted some women the right to vote, Cohen shifted her focus to the labour movement. She became involved with the National Union of Women's Suffrage Societies (NUWSS) and later the National Federation of Women Workers (NFWW). Cohen worked tirelessly to improve working conditions and wages for women.

In 1923, she was appointed as a magistrate in Leeds, one of the first women to hold such a position. She continued to advocate for women's rights and social justice throughout her life.

Legacy

Leonora Cohen lived to the age of 105, passing away in 1978. Her contributions to the suffragette movement and the labour movement have been widely recognized. She is remembered as a pioneering figure in the fight for women's rights and social equality.

See Also

• Women's suffrage in the United Kingdom
• Emmeline Pankhurst
• Christabel Pankhurst
• Representation of the People Act 1918
• National Union of Women's Suffrage Societies
• National Federation of Women Workers