Born: 1870 (Ferozopur, Bengal, India)
Died: 1952
Biography:
Katharine Gatty (11 June 1870 – 1 May 1952) was a nurse, journalist, lecturer, and militant suffragette. She played a significant role in the Women’s Social and Political Union (WSPU) and received the Hunger Strike Medal from them after going on a hunger strike in prison, where she was force-fed. Her contributions to the suffrage movement, as well as her later adventures in California and Australia, make her a notable figure in women’s history.
Born in Ferozopur, Bengal, India, in 1870, Katharine Gatty came from Irish heritage through her mother, Emma Rebecca née Collum, and her father, Captain Edward Gatty. At a young age, she moved to Hammersmith in London with her widowed mother. Gatty’s political activism began at the age of 18 when she participated in the Great Dock Strike of 1889, aligning herself with the Liberal Party.
In 1908, Gatty attended the International Congress of Women in Amsterdam as a delegate, further expanding her involvement in women’s rights movements. It was during this time that she joined the Ealing branch of the Women’s Social and Political Union, where she became a dedicated and militant suffragette. One noteworthy act of protest included chaining herself to the gates of Hyde Park.
Gatty faced imprisonment multiple times for her activism. In 1909, she spent one month in Holloway Prison, and in 1911, she was sentenced to three weeks in the same prison after participating in a window smashing campaign. This campaign aimed to draw attention to the lack of progress in achieving women’s suffrage. It was during her time in Holloway that Gatty went on a hunger strike, leading to the awarding of the Hunger Strike Medal from the WSPU.
Continuing her activism, Gatty also became a salaried member of the Women’s Tax Resistance League in London in 1911. She remained committed to the cause and even stood up against the exclusion of women from the trial of Emily Davison in January 1912, resulting in her arrest. Gatty was released without charge on this occasion, but her dedication to the suffrage movement was evident in her actions.
Tragically, Katharine Gatty lost a close friend and fellow suffragette, Emily Davison, at the 1913 Derby when Davison ran in front of King Edward VII’s horse. Gatty had invited Davison for tea just a month before the tragic event. This further motivated Gatty to continue fighting for women’s rights.
In March 1912, Gatty participated in another window smashing campaign for the WSPU, resulting in her imprisonment for six months. During her trial, she highlighted the stark contrast between the punishment for minor property damage and the leniency shown towards men who caused harm to women. This stark inequality fueled Gatty’s determination to challenge the status quo and advocate for change.
Later in life, Gatty’s adventures took her to California in the United States before eventually relocating to Australia. It is here that she spent her final years, making a lasting impact on the suffrage movement and women’s history as a whole.
Awards:
– Hunger Strike Medal from the Women’s Social and Political Union (WSPU)