Millicent Garrett Fawcett Blue Plaque

About This Blue Plaque

Dame Millicent Garrett Fawcett was a remarkable British suffragist and women’s rights activist. Born in 1847 in Aldeburgh, Suffolk, Fawcett dedicated her life to the fight for women’s suffrage. As a young woman, she was inspired by the work of her sister Elizabeth Garrett Anderson, who became the first female doctor in Britain.

Fawcett’s tireless efforts as a leader in the suffrage movement were instrumental in securing the right to vote for women. She served as the president of the National Union of Women’s Suffrage Societies (NUWSS) from 1897 until 1919. Unlike the more militant suffragettes, Fawcett believed in peaceful, constitutional campaigning. Her strategic leadership and persuasive speeches helped push the suffrage cause forward.

In recognition of her significant contributions, Fawcett was appointed Dame Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire (GBE) in 1925. She lived her final years at 2 Gower Street in Camden, London, where she passed away in 1929 at the age of 82. Today, a statue of Fawcett stands in Parliament Square, honoring her legacy as a pioneer of women’s rights. This blue plaque at her former residence serves as a reminder of the incredible impact one determined woman can have on society.