Margaret McPhun
Margaret Pollock McPhun (1876 – 1960) was a British suffragette from Glasgow who served two months in Holloway Prison in London, and composed a poem about imprisoned activist Janie Allan.
Margaret McPhun | |
---|---|
Born | 8 July 1876 Glasgow |
Died | 1960 |
Nationality | British |
Other names | Margaret Campbell |
Education | University of Glasgow |
Known for | Scottish suffragette |
Relatives | Frances McPhun |
Life
McPhun was born on 8 July 1876[1], her father was a Glasgow councillor who was a timber merchant. She and her sister Frances McPhun joined the Women's Social and Political Union (WSPU) in 1909 and was the Scottish WSPU press secretary from 1912-1914.[2] They were amongst dozens jailed for smashing government office windows in March, 1912.[3] The sisters had both attended the University of Glasgow, where Margaret had studied psychology and obtained an MA in 1897.[1]
The sisters used the name "Campbell" to hide their background when they were arrested.[4] When they were released from Holloway Prison after two months they were given Hunger Strike Medals 'for Valour' by the WSPU to record their hunger strikes.[5] Although the sisters had agreed that they would choose to drink from a cup to avoid being force fed through a nasal tube.[4]
Margaret composed a poem about a fellow prisoner named Janie Allan who enjoyed popular support in Scotland.
The poem was titled "To A Fellow Prisoner (Miss Janie Allan)", and it was included in the anthology Holloway Jingles published by the Glasgow branch of the WSPU later that year.[6]
References
- "University of Glasgow :: Story :: Biography of Margaret Pollock McPhun". www.universitystory.gla.ac.uk. Retrieved 2018-06-14.
- Crawford, Elizabeth (1998). The Women's Suffrage Movement: A Reference Guide 1866-1928. p. 404.
- ABACUS, Scott Graham -. "TheGlasgowStory: Margaret McPhun". www.theglasgowstory.com. Retrieved 13 June 2018.
- Findlay, Russell (18 November 2012). "Growing calls for Government to issue official apology to Suffragettes who fought to win vote for women". Retrieved 13 June 2018.
- Burrell Collection Photo Library: Margaret McPhun
- Norquay (1995), p. 176
Bibliography
- Norquay, Glenda (1995). Voices and Votes: A Literary Anthology of the Women's Suffrage Campaign. Manchester University Press. ISBN 0-7190-3975-4.
- Elizabeth Crawford, The Women's Suffrage Movement: A Reference Guide 1866-1928, 1998 ISBN 0415239265