Minnie Baldock facts for kids
Lucy Minnie Baldock (born Rogers; 1864 – 1954) was a brave British suffragette. Suffragettes were women who fought for the right to vote. Minnie Baldock, along with Annie Kenney, helped start the very first London group of the Women's Social and Political Union (WSPU). This was a famous group that worked hard to get women the right to vote.
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Early Life and Joining the Fight
Minnie Rogers was born in Bromley-by-Bow in 1864. When she grew up, she worked in a factory. In 1888, she married Harry Baldock, and they had two children. They lived in the East End of London, which was a very poor area at the time.
Minnie and Harry joined the Independent Labour Party (ILP). This was a political group that wanted to help working people. They joined after a socialist leader named Keir Hardie became their local Member of Parliament (M.P.). An M.P. is someone elected to represent people in the country's government.
Minnie worked with other important women like Charlotte Despard and Dora Montefiore. She even helped manage a fund to support people who were struggling without jobs. In 1905, even though women couldn't be M.P.s yet, the ILP chose her to be a candidate for a local council group called the West Ham Board of Guardians.
In 1906, Minnie Baldock and Annie Kenney started the first London branch of the Women's Social and Political Union (WSPU). This group had started in Manchester, but now it was growing. They held meetings in Canning Town.
Minnie was very active. In 1905, she went to a big political meeting dressed as a maid with Annie Kenney. Annie held up a banner that said 'Votes for Women'. This caused a big stir! The next day, Minnie visited a top politician to ask about women's voting rights.
Minnie became a paid worker for the WSPU. She helped teach and guide other new suffragettes. She traveled to different towns to attend meetings and speak to people. Important leaders like Emmeline Pethick-Lawrence, Annie Kenney, and Flora Drummond came to speak at the Canning Town group. Minnie also gave speeches at outdoor meetings.
Arrest and Imprisonment
Minnie Baldock was arrested several times for her actions. In October 1906, she was arrested for causing a disturbance during the opening of Parliament.
In 1907, she visited another suffragette in Holloway Prison. She learned how the women in prison would signal to each other because they weren't allowed to talk. Minnie also waited outside the prison with Christabel Pankhurst to welcome other suffragettes when they were released.
Minnie spoke at many events. She wanted rich women to understand the struggles that made poor women demand the right to vote. In 1907, she was removed from a politician's event but stood on a chair outside, shouting "Votes for Women!"
In 1908, Minnie Baldock was arrested again. She was with Emmeline Pankhurst and other women who tried to walk to the House of Commons to deliver a petition. They were charged with resisting the police.
Minnie and Annie Kenney had been arrested before, so they were fined or faced a month in prison. Minnie chose to go to prison. She had to leave her two sons with their father while she was in jail. Other suffragettes helped her family during this time.
While in prison, Minnie managed to send out a message that was published in the Votes for Women newspaper. She wrote: "I love freedom so dearly that I want all women to have it, and I will fight for it until they get it."
After her release, Minnie continued her work. She helped other suffragettes with their protests. In 1909, she was arrested again with Flora Drummond and the Pankhursts.
Because she had been to jail for the cause, Minnie was honored with planting a special tree at Eagle House in Somerset in 1909. This house belonged to the parents of Mary Blathwayt, who supported the suffragette movement.
Later Life and Legacy
In 1911, Minnie Baldock became ill with cancer and had surgery. After she recovered, she stopped working with the WSPU because they became more extreme in their methods. However, she stayed in touch with Edith How-Martyn and remained a member of the Church League for Women's Suffrage.
Later, Minnie and her family moved to Liverpool so her sons could find work.
Minnie Baldock continued to support the memory of the suffragette movement. She helped carry the special purple, white, and green colors at Emmeline Pankhurst's funeral in 1928. She also attended the unveiling of Emmeline Pankhurst's statue in 1930. Minnie helped Edith How-Martyn gather information about the movement for the Suffragette Fellowship.
Minnie Baldock lived to be 90 years old and passed away in 1954.
Remembering Minnie Baldock
Minnie Baldock's name and picture are on the base of the statue of Millicent Fawcett in Parliament Square, London. This statue was put up in 2018 to honor women who fought for the right to vote.
In 2011, a short film about Minnie Baldock's life called The Right to Vote was made. It was supported by Poole Museum and the National Lottery.
See also
In Spanish: Minnie Baldock para niños
