Lady Constance Lytton Flashcards
When was she born?
12th January 1869
What was her childhood like?
She spent the first 11 years of her life in India and was taught by many governesses so was very lonely.
What happened in 1892?
She fell in love with a man from a lower class than her. Her father had died but her mother refused to let her marry him.
What did Constance hope for?
She hoped that her mother would change her mind but she didn’t do she refused to marry anyone.
Why did Constance fund her sisters husband’s ideas so interesting?
He and his auteurs were keen supporters of the women’s suffrage movement and she found this very interesting although she didn’t join up because of her poor health and love affair.
What happened in 1908 that made Constance join the WSPU?
She met Emmeline Pankhurst and Annie Kenney and was very impressed by their views.
When she first joined up what did she do to try to persuade the government to grant imprisoned members the title of ‘political offenders’?
She tried to use her political contacts but this failed.
How did Lytton get arrested in 1909?
She took part in a demonstration at the House of Commons but when the authorities found out who she was they released her because they knew of her health problems and didn’t want her to become a famous martyr.
How did she react to this?
She was angry so decided to adopt a false identity and became Jane Wharton a London Seamstress. She was then arrested after another demonstration and was given a fourteen day sentence.
What happened during this sentence?
She didn’t eat so was force fed 8 times.
What happened to Lytton after being arrested in 1911?
She was released as it was clear she was in danger of dying. She suffered a stroke leaving her partly paralysed.
What did Constance do after her stroke?
She wrote books and articles on women’s rights. Her book is called ‘Prisons and Prisoners’.
When did the WSPU end their campaign?
1914 so Constance gave her support to Marie Stopes but she went to prison for progressive ideas (opened first family planning clinic)
When did she die?
2nd May 1823
Who were her parents?
Robert, Earl of Lytton(Viceroy of India) and Edith Villiers.
