Isabella Potbury facts for kids

Isabella Claude Potbury (1890 – 31 July 1965) was a brave portrait painter and a key member of the Women's Social and Political Union (WSPU). She was a strong suffragette, which means she fought for women to have the right to vote. Isabella was arrested many times for her activism. During her time in prison, she was even force-fed when she went on hunger strike. Because of her courage, the leaders of the WSPU gave her a special award called the Hunger Strike Medal.

Early Life and Family

Isabella Potbury was born in 1890 in Epsom, a town in Surrey, England. Her mother was Harriet Alice Clapham, and her father was John Albert Potbury. John was a schoolmaster who had studied at Cambridge University.

Fighting for the Vote

Isabella Potbury was a dedicated suffragette. She believed strongly that women should have the same voting rights as men. This was a big issue in the early 1900s.

Her first arrest happened on 25 November 1910. She appeared in court for her actions. She was arrested again on 24 November 1911 and sent to prison. Isabella continued her protests. On 7 March 1912, she was arrested again. This time, she had broken ten windows with two other suffragettes, Olive Wharry and Mollie Ward. They did this at a shop called Messers Robinson and Cleaver on Regent Street in London.

At 22 years old, Isabella was sent to Holloway Prison. She was sentenced to six months there. While in prison, she signed The Suffragette Handkerchief in 1912. This handkerchief was signed by many suffragettes who were imprisoned together. Isabella was released early in June 1912. This happened because she joined a hunger strike and was force-fed. Her last known court appearance was on 30 June 1914.

Later Life

In 1929, Isabella married Charles Nicholas Spencer. He was a playwright and an actor. They got married in Chelsea, London, and lived at 113 Cheyne Walk.

Isabella Claude Spencer passed away in 1965 in Chelsea, London. Her bravery helped women in the United Kingdom gain the right to vote.

See also

In Spanish: Isabella Potbury para niños