Annie Seymour Pearson facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Annie Seymour Pearson
WSPU prison brooch of the type awarded to Pearson
Born	1878
Nationality	British
Known for	Suffragette
Spouse(s)	Arthur Pearson
Children	Four

Annie Seymour Pearson (born in 1878) was a brave activist who fought for women's right to vote. She was known for helping other suffragettes, even providing a safe place for them to stay when they were trying to avoid the police.

Annie Seymour Pearson: A Suffragette Hero

Early Life and Family

Annie Seymour Pearson was born in 1878. She lived in York, a city in England. Annie was married to Arthur Pearson, and together they had four children. Their surviving children were Elsa, Francis, and Roland.

Standing Up for Women's Rights

In 1913, Annie decided to take a stand for women's suffrage. Suffrage means the right to vote in elections. At that time, women in the United Kingdom did not have the same voting rights as men. Annie joined many other women, known as suffragettes, who were campaigning for this important right.

She traveled to London to protest near the House of Commons, which is where the British Parliament meets. During the protest, she was arrested. She was accused of getting in the way of the police.

Annie was asked to appear in court on January 18, 1913. The judge gave her a choice: she could either pay a fine of 40 shillings (which was a good amount of money back then) or go to prison. Annie chose to go to prison to show how serious she was about the cause.

She was sent to Holloway Prison. However, just two days later, her husband Arthur paid the fine, and Annie was released from prison.

Continuing the Fight

After her release, Annie returned home to York. Her dedication to the cause was recognized by the Women's Social and Political Union (WSPU). This was a leading organization that campaigned for women's suffrage.

The WSPU gave Annie a special prison brooch. This brooch was a symbol of honor given to suffragettes who had been imprisoned for their activism. She was also invited to a special reception for former prisoners, where she was thanked for her bravery and contribution.

Annie was even interviewed by a reporter from The Yorkshire Herald newspaper. She used this chance to explain why she felt it was so important to protest and what had happened to her.

Later, Annie set up a "safe house." This was a secret place where other suffragettes and their supporters could hide if they were trying to avoid being caught by the police. One person she helped was Harry Johnson, another activist. Annie Pearson's actions showed her strong commitment to helping women gain the right to vote.

Images for kids

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  A WSPU prison brooch, similar to the one Annie Pearson received.