Aeta Lamb facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Aeta Adelaide Lamb
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in 1911
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Aeta Adelaide Lamb
1886 Demerara
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| Died | June 1928 |
| Nationality | United Kingdom |
Aeta Adelaide Lamb (born 1886 – died June 1928) was an important organizer for the Women's Social and Political Union (WSPU). This group was a leading organization that worked hard for women's right to vote in the UK.
Early Life and School
Aeta Lamb was born in Demerara, which was then called British Guiana. She was named after a type of palm tree that her father, William Davis Lamb, a plant scientist, found there.
When Aeta was young, her father passed away. Aeta, her two siblings, and her mother, Adelaide, moved back to England. Aeta went to Notting Hill High School from 1898 to 1899.
Working for Women's Rights
Aeta joined the WSPU in 1906. She was known for being a very good speaker and writer. She even helped write some of Christabel Pankhurst's speeches. Some people said she was the "real brains" behind some of Pankhurst's most famous words.
In October 1906, Aeta took part in a group visit to the House of Commons (the UK's parliament). She was arrested but was released after her mother paid a fine. Even so, she joined other similar visits in 1907 and 1908. These led to her being sent to Holloway Prison for a week, and then for a month.
In 1907, Aeta helped with election campaigns in different areas, working with famous suffragettes like Annie Kenney and Emmeline Pankhurst. Because of her hard work, she became a national organizer for the WSPU in October 1907.
In January 1908, she again helped Emmeline Pankhurst with election campaigns. From there, she helped organize the first WSPU meeting in Bath in April 1908. In Bath, she met the Blathwayt Family, who owned Eagle House. This house was a safe place for suffragettes between 1908 and 1912. In 1911, Aeta was one of the last WSPU members to visit. She planted a special tree in their garden, which they called the 'Suffragette's Rest'. The Blathwayt family later stopped supporting the WSPU because of their more forceful actions.
Aeta continued to help with many election campaigns throughout 1908. After these busy times, her health started to get weaker. She returned to London to work at the WSPU headquarters until World War I began. She became one of the WSPU's longest-serving organizers. One of her last tasks was to create a list of suffragette prisoners. This list ended up having over 1,200 documents about the arrests of more than 450 suffragettes.
Aeta remained loyal to the WSPU throughout their fight for women's votes. However, over time, she became less sure about their methods of protest.
Later Life and Passing
During World War I, Aeta worked in places that helped with the war effort. After the war, she found it hard to find a steady job, even though she learned skills like shorthand, typing, and cooking. She passed away from cancer at the Elizabeth Garrett Anderson and Obstetric Hospital when she was 41 years old.
