Ellison Scotland Gibb facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ellison Scotland Gibb
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Frances Parker (left) and Ellison Gibb. Evening Telegraph and Post Wednesday, 30 October 1912, page 1.
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| Born | 6 March 1879 Glasgow, Scotland
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| Died | 18 May 1970 Ayr, Scotland
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| Occupation | Political activist, chess player |
| Parent(s) | Peter Walker Gibb Margaret Skirving |
| Relatives | Margaret Skirving Gibb (sister) |
Ellison Scotland Gibb (born March 6, 1879 – died 1970) was a Scottish woman who worked hard for women's rights and was also a talented chess player. She was a very active member of the Women's Social and Political Union, a group that fought for women to get the right to vote. In 1910, she became a leader for the Actresses' Franchise League in Glasgow.
Ellison was arrested and even went to prison many times because of her strong actions to support women's right to vote. She even spoke directly to important leaders like Winston Churchill and Prime Minister H. H. Asquith to make her case. Besides her activism, she was also a great chess player, winning the Scottish Ladies Championship in 1907. She later became the President of the Glasgow Ladies Chess Club in 1921.
About Ellison's Family
Ellison's father was Peter Walker Gibb, who was a fish merchant. Her mother was Margaret Skirving. Interestingly, her mother was also very involved in chess and started the Glasgow Ladies Chess Club in 1905. She was the club's president until she passed away in 1918.
Ellison was one of six children. Her sister, Margaret Skirving Gibb, was also a suffragette, meaning she also fought for women's right to vote. Ellison was a descendant of William Skirving, who was known as one of the "Scottish Martyrs for Liberty."
Ellison was born in Glasgow, Scotland, in 1879. She passed away in Ayr, Scotland, in 1970.
Fighting for Women's Votes
Ellison Gibb was a dedicated member of the Women's Social and Political Union (WSPU) starting in 1910. This group was famous for its strong actions to get women the right to vote. She was also the honorary secretary, a kind of volunteer leader, for the Actresses' Franchise League in Glasgow. In 1911, Ellison, her mother, and the rest of her family refused to take part in the national census as a form of protest.
Ellison was arrested five times in London between 1910 and 1912, and once in Dundee. She spent time in different prisons, including Holloway Prison, Aylesbury Prison, and a prison in Dundee. During one of her times in prison, she went on a hunger strike, which meant she refused to eat to protest her imprisonment and the cause.
In November 1910, she and eight other women were arrested during a protest in London. In March 1912, Ellison and her friend Frances Parker had a chance to speak with Winston Churchill on a train. They asked him about his thoughts on women getting the right to vote and told him about the struggles of women in prison. Churchill was not happy with their questions. Later, in November 1912, while she was trying to protest to Prime Minister Herbert Asquith in Ladybank, she faced challenges but successfully took legal action against the person involved. In 1913, Ellison even bought Sylvia Pankhurst's special license for £100. This money went to help the Women's Social and Political Union continue their important work.
You can find descriptions and pictures of newspaper articles, prizes, and medals related to the Gibb family on the Chess Scotland website. This site also shows the Hunger Strike Medals that were given to both Ellison and her sister for their brave actions.
Ellison's Chess Achievements
Ellison Gibb was also a very good chess player. In 1907, she won the Ladies' Minor tournament at the Scottish Ladies' Championship. She even played against a famous chess player named Blackburne in 1921 and managed to draw, meaning neither player won. This happened when he visited the Glasgow Ladies' club for a special chess display.
In that same year, 1921, Ellison was chosen to be the President of the Glasgow Ladies' Chess Club. She also played as part of the Glasgow Ladies' team that made it to the final of the Spens Cup in the 1922-23 season, which is a big chess competition.
