The History of Wales

Born this day 1883 in Bayswater, London,

Active suffragette, Margaret Haig Mackworth, Viscountess Rhondda.

In 1908, Margaret Haig Mackworth became secretary of the Women’s Social and Political Union’s branch at Newport. She then became involved in protest marches with the Pankhursts, once, jumping onto the running board of Prime Minister Herbert Asquith's car and another time, attempting to destroy a post-box with a bomb. These activities resulted in her serving a period of time in prison only being released after going on a hunger strike.

During the First World War she accompanied her father to the USA to arrange the supply of munitions and on their return in May 1915 she was one of the survivors on the Lusitania, which was torpedoed by a German submarine. After her father's death, Lady Rhondda unsuccessfully attempted to take his seat in the House of Lords, citing the Sex Disqualification (Removal) Act 1919 which allowed women to exercise any public office. However,shortly after her death in 1958, women were allowed to enter the Lords for the first time.