Millicent Fawcett

Date of Birth: June 11, 1847

Zodiac Sign: Gemini

Date of Death: August 5, 1929

Biography

Millicent Fawcett was a pioneering English feminist, intellectual, political leader, and writer who played a crucial role in the women’s suffrage movement in the United Kingdom. Born Millicent Garrett on June 11, 1847, in Aldeburgh, Suffolk, she was the daughter of Newson Garrett, a prosperous businessman, and Louisa Dunnell Garrett. Millicent was the eighth of ten children, and she grew up in a family that valued education and social reform. Millicent married Henry Fawcett, a liberal Member of Parliament and Professor of Political Economy at Cambridge University, in 1867. Despite her husband’s blindness, the couple shared a deep intellectual partnership, and Millicent continued to work on social causes, particularly those affecting women. Millicent Fawcett is best known for her leadership in the National Union of Women’s Suffrage Societies (NUWSS), which she led from 1897 until 1919. The NUWSS was known for its peaceful, law-abiding approach to campaigning for women’s voting rights, in contrast to the more militant tactics of the Women’s Social and Political Union (WSPU) led by Emmeline Pankhurst. In addition to her suffrage work, Millicent Fawcett was an advocate for women’s education and played a significant role in the establishment of Newnham College, Cambridge. She also campaigned for the Married Women’s Property Act and was a supporter of various social reforms, including child welfare and public health. Millicent Fawcett’s tireless efforts were instrumental in securing women’s right to vote in the UK. In 1918, women over the age of 30 who met minimum property qualifications were granted the right to vote, and in 1928, the voting age for women was lowered to 21, on par with men. Millicent Fawcett passed away on August 5, 1929, leaving behind a legacy of progress and equality.

5 Interesting Facts about Millicent Fawcett

1. Millicent Fawcett was a founding member of Newnham College, Cambridge, one of the first colleges for women at the university.

2. She wrote several influential books, including “Political Economy for Beginners” and “Women’s Suffrage: A Short History of a Great Movement.”

3. Millicent Fawcett was the first woman to have a statue in Parliament Square, London, unveiled in 2018.

4. She was awarded the Dame Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire (GBE) in 1925 for her contributions to the women’s suffrage movement.

5. Fawcett’s sister, Elizabeth Garrett Anderson, was the first woman to qualify as a physician and surgeon in Britain.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Millicent Fawcett

1. “Courage calls to courage everywhere, and its voice cannot be denied.”

2. “Justice and judgement lie often a world apart.”

3. “The victory of reason over prejudice will come with the steady march of time.”

4. “We are here, not because we are law-breakers; we are here in our efforts to become law-makers.”

5. “The fight for women’s rights is a fight for humanity.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

Millicent Fawcett did not pursue wealth and therefore did not achieve a significant net worth. Her contributions were primarily in the realm of social reform and activism.

Children

Millicent Fawcett and Henry Fawcett had one child, Philippa Fawcett, born in 1868. Philippa became a notable mathematician, famously outscoring the top male student in the Cambridge Mathematical Tripos exams in 1890.