The Edinburgh National Society for Women's Suffrage was a leading group for women's rights in Scotland. It was one of the first three suffrage societies to be formed in Britain.

History

The

Edinburgh Ladies' Emancipation Society The Edinburgh Ladies' Emancipation Society was a leading Abolitionism, abolitionist group based in Edinburgh, Scotland, in the nineteenth century. The women associated with the organisation are considered "heroines" and the impact of these aboli ...

was at one time the focus for women's rights in Edinburgh. This came to an end when

Eliza Wigham Eliza Wigham (23 February 1820 – 3 November 1899), born Elizabeth Wigham, was a Scottish campaigner for women's suffrage, anti-slavery, peace and temperance in Edinburgh, Scotland. She was involved in several major campaigns to improve women ...

, Jane Wigham and some of their friends set up the Edinburgh chapter of the

National Society for Women's Suffrage The National Society for Women's Suffrage Manchester Branch The National Society for Women's Suffrage was the first national group in the United Kingdom to campaign for women's right to vote. Officially formed on 6 November 1867, by Lydia Becker ...

on 6 November 1867. Eliza and her friend

Agnes McLaren Agnes McLaren (4 July 1837 – 17 April 1913) FRCPI was a Scottish doctor who was one of the first to give medical assistance to women in India who, because of custom, were unable to access medical help from male doctors. Agnes was active in s ...

became the secretaries,

Priscilla Bright McLaren Priscilla Bright McLaren (8 September 1815 – 5 November 1906) was an English activist who served and linked the anti-slavery movement with the women's suffrage movement in the nineteenth century. She was a member of the Edinburgh Ladies' Emanc ...

was the president and Elizabeth Pease was the treasurer. One aim of the group was to influence a change in policy through supportive key politicians (MPs)

John Stuart Mill John Stuart Mill (20 May 1806 – 7 May 1873) was an English philosopher, political economist, politician and civil servant. One of the most influential thinkers in the history of liberalism and social liberalism, he contributed widely to s ...

Jacob Bright The Rt Hon. Jacob Bright (26 May 1821 – 7 November 1899) was a British Liberal politician serving as Mayor of Rochdale and later Member of Parliament for Manchester. Background Bright was born at Green Bank near Rochdale, Lancashire. He w ...

and

Duncan McLaren Duncan McLaren (12 January 1800 – 26 April 1886) was a Scottish Liberal Party politician and political writer. He served as a member of the burgh council of Edinburgh, then as Lord Provost, then as a Member of Parliament (MP) for the Edinbu ...

. In 1868,

Mary Burton Mary Hill Burton (1819–1909) was a Scottish social and educational reformer and the first woman governor of Heriot-Watt College. Biography Mary Burton was born in Aberdeen but moved to Edinburgh in 1832 with her widowed mother and her brother ...

, a member of the Society, went to court, unsuccessfully, for the right to register to vote. By 1877, Eliza Wigham was still the secretary but she was sharing the role with

Emily Rosaline Orme Emily Rosaline Orme (1835–1915) was a leader of the Edinburgh National Society for Women's Suffrage. She was a noted campaigner for women's suffrage in Scotland. Early life Orme was born in 1835, one of eight children to parents Eliza Andrews ...

. Jessie C. Methven became honorary secretary in the mid 1890s. She was succeeded in 1906 by

Elsie Inglis Eliza Maud "Elsie" Inglis (16 August 1864 – 26 November 1917) was a Scottish medical doctor, surgeon, teacher, suffragist, and founder of the Scottish Women's Hospitals. She was the first woman to hold the Serbian Order of the White Eagl ...

. Inglis also played a role in the early years of the

Scottish Federation of Women's Suffrage Societies Scottish Federation of Women's Suffrage Societies is a Scottish organisation for women's suffrage. It was established in 1910 as an affiliate of the National Union of Women's Suffrage Societies in London for the constitutional suffrage campaign in S ...

, acting as honorary secretary from 1906 to 1914.

Sarah Mair Dame Sarah Elizabeth Siddons Mair (23 September 1846 – 13 February 1941) was a Scottish campaigner for women's education and women's suffrage. She was active in the Edinburgh Association for the University Education of Women and the Ladies ...

, who was a leading activist for various causes including the

Edinburgh Ladies' Educational Association The Edinburgh Association for the University Education of Women (EAUEW), originally known as the Edinburgh Ladies' Educational Association (ELEA), campaigned for Higher education in Scotland, higher education for women from 1867 until 1892 when S ...

, became president of the society in 1907. Suffragette sisters and hunger strikers

Arabella ''Arabella'', Op. 79, is a lyric comedy, or opera, in three acts by Richard Strauss to a German libretto by Hugo von Hofmannsthal, their sixth and last operatic collaboration. Performance history It was first performed on 1 July 1933 at the D ...

and

Muriel Scott Muriel Eleanor Scott (1888–1963), was a Scottish suffragette, hunger striker, and protest organiser. Her sister Arabella Scott was force-fed many times, and Muriel Scott led protests about this cruel treatment. Family and education Muriel ...

joined whilst students at the

University of Edinburgh The University of Edinburgh (, ; abbreviated as ''Edin.'' in Post-nominal letters, post-nominals) is a Public university, public research university based in Edinburgh, Scotland. Founded by the City of Edinburgh Council, town council under th ...

(before 1908). The organisation campaigned until (some) women got the right to vote in 1918, then renamed as the National Union of Women for Equal Citizenship went on to fight for women's issues.

References

{{Women's suffrage in Scotland Feminist organisations in Scotland Organizations established in 1867 1867 establishments in Scotland Women's suffrage in Scotland Defunct organisations based in Scotland Organisations based in Edinburgh Suffrage organisations in the United Kingdom National Society for Women's Suffrage Women in Edinburgh