Christabel Pankhurst

Christabel Pankhurst (1880-1958), Organising Secretary of the WSPU and editor of The Suffragette weekly newspaper. The eldest daughter of Emmeline and Richard Pankhurst, Christabel had a degree in law from Owen's College, Victoria University, Manchester. Because she was a woman she was not allowed to practice as a lawyer. As a founding member of the WSPU Christabel was a brilliant public speaker and inspired great loyalty in her supporters. Although Christabel served three terms of imprisonment for militancy she escaped to France in March 1912 to avoid the charge of conspiracy also faced by her Mother. In exile in Parish she continued to lead the WSPU and edit the Suffragette newspaper. She did not return to England until after the outbreak of the First World War.