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Who was Emily Wilding Davison?

Part of HistoryCivil rights and social activistsYear 1Year 2

This is Emily Wilding Davison.

Emily Wilding Davison in a cap and gown.

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Emily was born in 1872 in Greenwich, London.
At that time women weren’t allowed to vote and choose who ran the country.
Emily thought this was unfair.
She joined a group called the suffragettes. They were fighting for women to be able to vote.

Emily Wilding Davison in a cap and gown.

A group of suffragettes standing in the street. — Image caption,
A group of suffragettes standing in the street in 1909. Emily is the woman standing second from the right.

Why do we remember her?

A photograph of Suffragette leaders in the street. — Image caption,
The Suffragette leaders Christabel Pankhurst and Emmeline Pethick-Lawrence with Emily Wilding Davison and Mabel Tuke, 1911.

Emily was one of thousands of militant suffragettes.

Being militant means you are prepared to break the law and even go to prison to fight for what you believe in.
Some suffragettes smashed windows, burned down buildings and chained themselves to railings.

A photograph of Suffragette leaders in the street. — Image caption,
The Suffragette leaders Christabel Pankhurst and Emmeline Pethick-Lawrence with Emily Wilding Davison and Mabel Tuke, 1911.

A photograph of Emily Wilding Davison being arrested by police — Image caption,
Emily Wilding Davison being arrested by police.

What happened to Emily in 1913?

Emily is famous because she died when she walked onto the racecourse at the Epsom Derby and was knocked down by the King’s horse.
It's not clear why she was on the course and what she planned to do.

A photograph of the funeral procession for Emily Wilding Davison. — Image caption,
Emily Wilding Davison's funeral.

How do we know about Emily and the suffragettes?

We can learn more about Emily and the suffragettes from objects and pictures.

Look at this slideshow to see some images from the Museum of London’s collections.

Skip image gallery

Image source, © Museum of London
Image caption,
A flag in the Suffragette colours: purple, white and green.
Image source, © Museum of London
Image caption,
Newspaper Daily Sketch reports Emily Wilding Davison's death. This is the front page on 9th June 1913, the day after Emily died.
Image source, © Museum of London
Image caption,
View from above of Emily Wilding Davison's funeral procession on 14 June 1913.
Image source, © Museum of London
Image caption,
Emily Wilding Davison's funeral procession on 14 June 1913. This photograph shows Emily's coffin being taken into St George's Church in London. This is where a memorial service was held.
Image source, © Museum of London
Image caption,
Programme for a service held at St George's Church (in London) on 14th June 1914. This was the first anniversary of Emily's death.

Activity 1 – Remembering Emily

Here is a picture of a paper souvenir, made to remember Emily after she died.

Design or make your own object to help us remember Emily.
Who was she and why do we remember her?

Souvenir paper table napkin remembering the life and death of Emily Wilding Davison. — Image caption,
Street sellers in London sold items like this as Emily’s funeral procession passed through the streets.

Activity 2 – Emily Wilding Davison quiz