Margaret McPhun facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Margaret McPhun
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| Born | 8 July 1876 Glasgow, Scotland,
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland |
| Died | 1960 |
| Nationality | British |
| Other names | Margaret Campbell |
| Education | University of Glasgow |
| Known for | Scottish suffragette |
| Relatives | Frances McPhun |
Margaret Pollock McPhun (1876–1960) was a brave Scottish woman who fought for women's right to vote. She was known as a suffragette, a person who worked hard to gain voting rights for women. Margaret came from Glasgow, Scotland, and even spent time in Holloway Prison in London because of her activism. She also wrote a poem about another activist she met in prison.
Contents
Margaret McPhun: A Champion for Women's Rights
Early Life and Education
Margaret McPhun was born on July 8, 1876. Her father was a successful timber merchant and a local politician in Glasgow. Margaret and her sister, Frances McPhun, both attended the University of Glasgow. Margaret studied psychology and earned her Master of Arts degree in 1897. This education helped her later in her work for women's rights.
Fighting for the Vote
In 1909, Margaret and her sister Frances joined the Women's Social and Political Union (WSPU). This group was very active in fighting for women's right to vote. From 1912 to 1914, Margaret worked as the WSPU's press secretary for Scotland. This meant she helped share their message with newspapers and the public.
In March 1912, Margaret and Frances were among many women who were arrested. They were jailed for breaking windows at government offices. This was a way to protest and draw attention to their cause. When they were arrested, the sisters used the name "Campbell" to keep their family's name out of trouble.
After spending two months in Holloway Prison, they were released. The WSPU gave them special "hunger strike medals" for their bravery. These medals recognized that they had refused to eat while in prison. The sisters had agreed to drink from a cup to avoid being force-fed through a tube. This showed their strong commitment to their cause.
A Voice Through Poetry
While in prison, Margaret wrote a poem about a fellow prisoner named Janie Allan. Janie Allan was very popular in Scotland and had a lot of public support. Margaret's poem was called "To A Fellow Prisoner (Miss Janie Allan)". It was later included in a collection of poems called Holloway Jingles. This book was published by the Glasgow branch of the WSPU that same year. It helped share the experiences of suffragettes in prison.
See also
In Spanish: Margaret McPhun para niños
