Charlotte Despard, social reformer and suffragette, was always known as
Mrs Despard, never Charlotte. Her name should be synonymous with those
of Emmeline Pankhurst and Millicent Fawcett; instead, she remains
overlooked.
Born in 1844, Charlotte's childhood was difficult: she found solace in
great literature, identifying with Milton and the romantic words of
Shelley. She married Maximillian Despard and had the opportunity to
explore the world and try her hand at a career as a novelist.
Widowed in her early 40s, her money and status allowed her to live a
life of surprising freedom for a woman of her time. Charlotte devoted
her life to improving the lot of the poor and moved to live among them
in the London slums. She fought for better and fairer living/working
conditions for all, supporting adult suffrage before becoming heavily
involved in the fight for votes for women. She joined Emmeline
Pankhurst's Women's Social and Political Union and when that
organization split in 1907 co-founded the Women's Freedom League,
becoming its first, much loved, president. She also served as editor and
major contributor to its newspaper, The Vote. When suffrage activities
were largely suspended after the outbreak of WW1 in 1914, she returned
to her Irish roots and moved to Dublin to support the fight for Irish
home rule. After some women were enfranchised in 1918 she tried to
capitalize on the upturn for women's political freedom (unsuccessfully)
running for Parliament.
Charlotte's political and public career ended tragically when she died
in Belfast aged 95, penniless and alone, having given all her money to
helping the less fortunate. Charlotte's quiet legacy continues to this
day in her work particularly for the rights of women and children.
