12 Facts About Dorinda Neligan

Dorinda Neligan was an Irish born English headmistress and suffragette.

Dorinda Neligan was the fifth child of Lieutenant Thomas Neligan.

Dorinda Neligan was educated at home, in Paris and Germany and she went on to work as a "finishing governess".

Dorinda Neligan then did notable work leading nursing at the siege of Metz during the Franco Prussian War from 1870 to 1871.

Dorinda Neligan learned French and German and taught French, and Neligan was the founding head of Croydon High School in 1874, where she remained for 27 years.

Dorinda Neligan had grabbed some ivy from the school walls for the girls to wear in their hair to be 'distinctive' at the first girls day schools' company prize giving.

Dorinda Neligan lived, as head of the household of women at the school in St Leonard's Lodge, Wellesly Road.

Dorinda Neligan was said to have been willing to be imprisoned, even if subscribing to the WSPU became illegal, but she never was imprisoned, although she was arrested in 1910.

On 18 November 1910, Dorinda Neligan joined a deputation led by Emmeline Pankhurst to petition the Prime Minister Asquith.

The day became known as "Black Friday" There was evidence that Dorinda Neligan had assaulted a constable, but no charges were made.

Dorinda Neligan died at her home in Croydon in 1914, not seeing the result of her efforts, that some women were to get the vote in 1918.

Dorinda Neligan's obituary was published in the Women's Freedom League newspaper, The Vote, A wreath was sent to her funeral from the WSPU leader, Emmeline Pankhurst "With love and remembrance for a brave veteran, whose life was spent in noble work for women and for the race," along with flowers from the local WSPU branch and a wreath from the WFL.