1-192-436 - © London Museum/Heritage-Images

Emmeline Pankhurst, Honorary Secretary, and later Honorary Treasurer, of the WSPU, c1909. Born in Manchester from a Radical political background, Emmeline Goulden married Dr Richard Pankhurst, the 'Red Doctor', a Radical, feminist barrister. Their three daughters were all involved in the WSPU, one son died before the campaign had started, and the other died at the height of the militancy in 1910. Emmeline was a charismatic and eloquent speaker and was 'immensely popular' with the membership. By 1913 she had served three prison sentences: two in 1908 for leading a deputation to Parliament, and for inciting the public to 'rush' the House of Commons; and in the wake of the window smashing of March 1912, she was sentenced to nine months in prison for conspiracy to commit damage. She is wearing the Holloway Badge, a medal of honour designed by her daughter Sylvia, and awarded to suffragettes who had been imprisoned for their involvement in the campaign. It is an enamel arrow in the suffragette colours, mounted on a silver portcullis.