Elizabeth Blackwell
(1821–1910)
Born in Britain, Blackwell was
the first woman to receive a
medical degree in America
and the first woman to be
on the UK medical register.
Blackwell helped to break
down social barriers,
enabling women to be
accepted as doctors.
Millicent Fawcett
(1846–1929)
A leading suffragist and
campaigner for equal
rights for women. She
led Britain’s biggest
suffrage organisation,
the non-violent (NUWSS)
and played a key role in
gaining women the vote.
She also helped found
Newnham College, Cambridge.
Emmeline Pankhurst
(1858–1928)
A British suffragette,
Emily Pankhurst dedicated
her life to the promotion
of women’s rights. She
explored all avenues of
protest including violence,
public demonstrations
and hunger strikes. She
died in 1928, 3 weeks
before a law giving all
women over 21 the right
to vote.
Marie Curie
(1867–1934)
Polish/French scientist.
Curie was the first woman
to receive the Nobel
Prize and the first person
to win the Nobel Prize for
two separate categories.
Her first award was for
research into radioactivity.
Her second Nobel prize
was for Chemistry in 1911.
A few years later she also
helped develop the first
X-ray machines.
Helen Keller
(1880–1968)
American social activist.
At the age of 19 months,
Helen became deaf and
blind. Overcoming the
frustration of losing
both sight and hearing
she campaigned tirelessly
on behalf of deaf and
blind people.
This series of pictures shows a number of famous women with information about why they are included.
To start the sequence again just refresh the page.