Suffragette Emily Wilding Davison died after throwing herself under the king’s horse (Picture: Getty)

It is 104 years to the day since Emily Davison gave her life in the fight for women’s right to vote.

On 8 June 1913, Emily Wilding Davison became a symbol of women’s emancipation when she died of her injuries after throwing herself under King George V’s horse at the Epsom racecourse four days earlier.

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It’s believed Davison was attempting to attach a scarf or flag calling for women to have the vote on to the horse’s bridle rather than intentionally harm or kill herself.

Although she was mortally wounded and became the first woman to give her sacrifice her life for the cause.




Even before her death, Davison was a ferocious force in the British suffrage movement.

Davison was the first British woman to die in the fight for the vote (Picture: REX/Shutterstock)

Suffragette Emily Davison is hit and killed by King George V’s horse Anmer during the 1913 Epsom Derby (Picture: Getty)

She was known for her extreme and daring campaigning tactics and was arrested on nine separate occasions.

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Davison was born in southeast London on 11 October 1872.

She was educated at Royal Holloway College and later studied at Oxford University.

She joined the Women’s Social and Political Union, founded by Emmeline Pankhurst, in 1906.

The Daily Sketch front page, 9 June, 1913

Becoming increasingly passionate about the cause as she got older, her political displays became increasingly more militant.

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She was arrested for burning post boxes and causing public disturbance. In 1909, Davison was sentenced to a month of hard labour in Strangeways Prison in Manchester after throwing stones at a carriage transporting chancellor David Lloyd George.

She went on hunger strike during her short spell in prison and resisted force feeding by guards.

Suffragettes, wearing black armbands, in the funeral procession of English suffragette Emily Davison (1872 – 1913), London, 14th June 1913 (Picture: Getty)

On Election Day in 2017, many people on social media are paying tribute to Davison and her contribution to democracy in the UK.

Woman at my polling station cheered when she walked in + saw a queue – democracy in action on the 104th anniversary of Emily Davison's death pic.twitter.com/igsZ58LBtt — Paula Reid (@paulamreid) June 8, 2017

104 years ago today, Emily Davison died in the fight to give women the right to vote. PLEASE use yours. #GE2017 pic.twitter.com/Uc6Q0SoWm2 — Kim Barrett (@KimDBarrett) June 8, 2017

emily davison didn't chuck herself in front of a horse for u to turn round 100 years later n say you're not voting cos ya can't be arsed — nicola w (@thenamesnicola) June 7, 2017

Emily Davison died so that women in this country could vote. Exercise your right to vote tomorrow, don't waste it. #WomanCrushWednesday pic.twitter.com/ASnf33CVGC — MuslimWomensCouncil (@MWC_Bradford) June 7, 2017

Suffragette Emily Wilding Davison​ died for women's right to vote #OTD in 1913 after being hit by the King's horse. #YourVoteMatters pic.twitter.com/Y5sSFmjMqx — UK Parliament (@UKParliament) June 8, 2017

It's exactly 104 years ago today since Emily Davison died in the fight for equality and the right to vote. PLS DON'T FORGET TO VOTE! #GE2017 pic.twitter.com/UswZcf4ZaJ — Antony Tiernan (@AntonyTiernan) June 8, 2017