Emily Davison (11 October 1872 – 8 June 1913) was a
suffragette who fought for
votes for women in the United Kingdom in the early 20th century. Davison grew up in a middle-class family and studied at
Royal Holloway College, London, and
St Hugh's College, Oxford, before taking jobs as a teacher and governess. A
staunch feminist and passionate Christian, she deemed
socialism to be a moral and political force for good. She became an officer of the
Women's Social and Political Union and a chief steward during its marches. Her tactics included breaking windows, throwing stones, setting fire to postboxes, and, on three occasions, hiding overnight in the
Palace of Westminster – including on the night of the
1911 census. Davison was arrested nine times, went on
hunger strike seven times, and was
force fed on forty-nine occasions. She died after being hit by
King George V's horse Anmer at the 1913
Epsom Derby when she walked onto the track during the race. This studio portrait, showing Davison wearing her
Hunger Strike Medal and
Holloway brooch, was taken in the early 1910s.
Photograph credit: Andrew William Dron; restored by Adam Cuerden
