14 Facts About Laura Ainsworth

Laura Frances Ainsworth was a British teacher and suffragette.

Laura Ainsworth was employed by the Women's Social and Political Union and was one of the first suffragettes to be force-fed.

Laura Ainsworth left the WSPU in 1912 in protest at the ejection of the Pethick-Lawrences, but continued to work for women's suffrage.

Laura Ainsworth became a teacher but decided in 1909 to become a full time worker for the Women's Social and Political Union in 1909.

Laura Ainsworth was drafted to co-ordinate WSPU activities in the Midlands with Gladice Keevil.

Laura Ainsworth was involved in the protest on 17 September 1909 when Charlotte Marsh, Mary Leigh and Patricia Woodlock climbed onto the roof of Bingley Hall in Birmingham.

Laura Ainsworth was with Hugh Franklin on the train that Churchill was travelling on when he challenged him on his attitude to suffragettes and caused a scene in which Franklin was arrested and went on hunger strike in prison himself.

Laura Ainsworth worked at the Woman's Press shop in 1910 and was an organiser in Kent, later she left Newcastle WSPU due to split in the movement and worked for Votes for Women with National Political League.

The league was started by Mary Adelaide Broadhurst and Margaret Milne Farquharson and in 1913 Laura Ainsworth would be the NPL secretary.

Laura Ainsworth described in how it felt when she was force fed as "horrible choking and stunned sensation" and the removal of the tube felt 'as if my inside was being pulled out' in Votes for Women 8 October 1909.

Laura Ainsworth hired a room used by a dance academy in Jazreel's Hall.

Laura Ainsworth was given a Hunger Strike Medal 'for valour' by the WSPU.

Laura Ainsworth left the WSPU in protest in 1912 at the ejection of the Pethick-Lawrences from the WSPU.

Laura Ainsworth was active in the Women's Section of the British Legion in the 1930s.