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Page 1: The Strange Death of Emily Davison Background Emily Wilding Davison (1872-1913) is one of the most famous of the Suffragettes. It was Emily Wilding Davison

The Strange Death of Emily The Strange Death of Emily DavisonDavison

Page 2: The Strange Death of Emily Davison Background Emily Wilding Davison (1872-1913) is one of the most famous of the Suffragettes. It was Emily Wilding Davison

 

BackgroundBackground

Emily Wilding Davison Emily Wilding Davison (1872-1913) is one of (1872-1913) is one of the most famous of the the most famous of the Suffragettes. It was Suffragettes. It was Emily Wilding Davison Emily Wilding Davison who threw herself who threw herself under the king’s horse under the king’s horse at the Derby of 1913 at the Derby of 1913 thus making her mark thus making her mark in history.in history.

Page 3: The Strange Death of Emily Davison Background Emily Wilding Davison (1872-1913) is one of the most famous of the Suffragettes. It was Emily Wilding Davison

A Well Educated LadyA Well Educated Lady

As a young lady she had As a young lady she had defied the odds a male-defied the odds a male-dominated society dominated society imposed on women, by imposed on women, by graduating with a BA graduating with a BA at London University at London University and after this she and after this she gained a first class gained a first class honours degree at honours degree at Oxford University.Oxford University.

Page 4: The Strange Death of Emily Davison Background Emily Wilding Davison (1872-1913) is one of the most famous of the Suffragettes. It was Emily Wilding Davison

She was appalled at the lack of real She was appalled at the lack of real opportunities women had in late Victorian opportunities women had in late Victorian society but she was especially angered by society but she was especially angered by the stigma attached to all women by being the stigma attached to all women by being denied the right to vote.denied the right to vote.

Page 5: The Strange Death of Emily Davison Background Emily Wilding Davison (1872-1913) is one of the most famous of the Suffragettes. It was Emily Wilding Davison

 .. Emily Davison became a Emily Davison became a

natural follower of the natural follower of the Suffragettes and joined the Suffragettes and joined the WSPU in 1906. She took WSPU in 1906. She took part in attacks on property. part in attacks on property. She became a leading She became a leading member of the Suffragettes member of the Suffragettes and was imprisoned and and was imprisoned and force-fed. On one occasion force-fed. On one occasion she barricaded herself in a she barricaded herself in a prison cell to escape force-prison cell to escape force-feeding. Her cell was feeding. Her cell was flooded with ice cold water flooded with ice cold water which drenched her while which drenched her while workmen broke down the workmen broke down the cell door. Such treatment cell door. Such treatment only made her even more only made her even more determined.determined.

Page 6: The Strange Death of Emily Davison Background Emily Wilding Davison (1872-1913) is one of the most famous of the Suffragettes. It was Emily Wilding Davison

On another occasion while On another occasion while in prison, she threw herself in prison, she threw herself off of a prison upper gallery off of a prison upper gallery floor. floor.

She was badly She was badly injured but realised injured but realised that a Suffragette that a Suffragette dying in prison would dying in prison would look bad for the look bad for the authorities - who authorities - who were to respond to were to respond to this real threat by the this real threat by the introduction of the introduction of the Cat and Mouse Act.Cat and Mouse Act.

Page 7: The Strange Death of Emily Davison Background Emily Wilding Davison (1872-1913) is one of the most famous of the Suffragettes. It was Emily Wilding Davison

Prison RecordPrison Record

March 30th 1909March 30th 1909 One month in prison for One month in prison for

obstructionobstruction July 30th 1909July 30th 1909 Two months in prison for Two months in prison for

obstruction, released after five obstruction, released after five and a half days hunger strike.and a half days hunger strike.

September 4th 1909September 4th 1909 Two months for stone throwing at Two months for stone throwing at

White City, Manchester, released White City, Manchester, released after two and a half days hunger after two and a half days hunger strike. strike.

   October 20th 1909October 20th 1909 One month for stone throwing at One month for stone throwing at

Radcliffe near Manchester. Radcliffe near Manchester. Hunger strike, forcibly fed, hose-Hunger strike, forcibly fed, hose-pipe incident at Strangeways pipe incident at Strangeways prison and released at end of prison and released at end of eight days.eight days.

Page 8: The Strange Death of Emily Davison Background Emily Wilding Davison (1872-1913) is one of the most famous of the Suffragettes. It was Emily Wilding Davison

November 19th 1910November 19th 1910One month for breaking windows One month for breaking windows in the House of Commonsin the House of Commons

January 10th 1912January 10th 1912 Six months for setting Six months for setting

fire to postal boxes at fire to postal boxes at Holloway, London. Holloway, London. Released 10 days Released 10 days before sentence before sentence finished on account of finished on account of injuries sustained in injuries sustained in protest made against protest made against forcible feeding.forcible feeding.

November 30th 1912November 30th 1912 Ten days for assaulting Ten days for assaulting

a vicar who she mistook a vicar who she mistook to be David Lloyd to be David Lloyd GeorgeGeorge

Page 9: The Strange Death of Emily Davison Background Emily Wilding Davison (1872-1913) is one of the most famous of the Suffragettes. It was Emily Wilding Davison

Derby Day 1913Derby Day 1913

Anmer struck the woman with his chest, and Anmer struck the woman with his chest, and she was knocked over screaming. Blood she was knocked over screaming. Blood rushed from her nose and mouth. The king's rushed from her nose and mouth. The king's horse turned a complete somersault, and the horse turned a complete somersault, and the jockey, Herbert Jones, was knocked off and jockey, Herbert Jones, was knocked off and seriously injured. An immense crowd at once seriously injured. An immense crowd at once invaded the course. The woman was picked up invaded the course. The woman was picked up and placed in a motor car and taken in an and placed in a motor car and taken in an ambulance to Epsom Cottage Hospital. ambulance to Epsom Cottage Hospital.

Page 10: The Strange Death of Emily Davison Background Emily Wilding Davison (1872-1913) is one of the most famous of the Suffragettes. It was Emily Wilding Davison

Cartoon in Daily Mail, 1914Cartoon in Daily Mail, 1914

Page 11: The Strange Death of Emily Davison Background Emily Wilding Davison (1872-1913) is one of the most famous of the Suffragettes. It was Emily Wilding Davison

Did she mean to kill Did she mean to kill herself?herself?

When she died, Emily was carrying a When she died, Emily was carrying a little sovereign purse . In it was a return little sovereign purse . In it was a return ticket to Epsom and a diary, showing her ticket to Epsom and a diary, showing her appointments for the next week, so it appointments for the next week, so it suggests she hadn't intended to die. suggests she hadn't intended to die.

What does the What does the evidence infer or evidence infer or

suggest?suggest?