Helen Nicol (suffragist) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Helen Nicol
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| Born | 29 May 1854 Edinburgh, Scotland
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| Died | 22 November 1932 (aged 78) Dunedin, New Zealand
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| Known for | A major leader of the women's suffrage movement and founder of the Dunedin Women's Franchise League |
Helen Lyster Nicol (born May 29, 1854 – died November 22, 1932) was an important leader in New Zealand. She worked hard to help women gain the right to vote. She also supported the temperance movement, which encouraged people to avoid alcohol. Helen Nicol is one of six women honored in the Kate Sheppard National Memorial for her work.
Early Life and Beliefs
Helen Nicol was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, in 1854. When she was just two years old, her family moved to New Zealand. She was one of ten children. Her father, David Nicol, was a gardener who did well in New Zealand.
Helen was a very religious person and a dedicated Presbyterian. She also taught at a Sunday School. She believed strongly in living a life without alcohol.
Fighting for Women's Rights
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Helen Nicol became involved in the fight for women's right to vote through her work with the Women's Christian Temperance Union. This group believed that women should have a say in how the country was run.
Helen became one of the main leaders of the women's suffrage movement in Dunedin. At that time, Dunedin was the biggest city in New Zealand. Along with two other important women, Marion Hatton and Harriet Morison, Helen Nicol helped create the Women's Franchise League. This group worked to get women the right to vote.
Thanks to their efforts, Dunedin collected more signatures for the petitions asking Parliament to allow women to vote than any other part of New Zealand. These petitions were very important in showing how many people supported women's suffrage.
Legacy and Memorial
Helen Nicol is remembered as one of the six key women who helped New Zealand become the first self-governing country where women could vote. She is honored in the Kate Sheppard National Memorial. This special sculpture is located by the Avon River in Christchurch.
Helen Nicol passed away on November 22, 1932, in Dunedin, New Zealand. Her work helped change history for women in New Zealand and inspired others around the world.
