16 Facts About Marguerite Palmer

Marguerite or Margaret Blanche Palmer was born on 18 May 1886 and was an Irish suffragette and was among the first group of suffragettes imprisoned in Ireland, and later known as one of the "Tullamore Mice".

Marguerite Palmer, known as Margaret Palmer was born Marguerite Blanche Bannister in Newtownards, County Down on 18 May 1886.

Marguerite Palmer's father, George Winslow Bannister, was a clergyman, and her mother was Anna.

Marguerite Palmer boycotted the 1911 census, alongside numerous suffragettes, but her husband and mother-in-law Eliza, who is listed as "unenfranchised" were registered at 56 Beechwood Avenue, Rathmines.

Marguerite Palmer had become a member of the Irish Women's Franchise League before her marriage and it appears that her husband supported her in her involvement in the movement.

Marguerite Palmer was among the earliest members of the IWFL, and one of the most prominent, going on to serve as the honorary secretary.

Marguerite Palmer is listed alongside Margaret Connery in the Aberdeen Journal in November 1911 for taking part in the mass demonstration for women's suffrage which obstructed the areas around Parliament Square, Whitehall, and the Strand in London.

Marguerite Palmer was imprisoned in Holloway for a week for her part in these protests.

Marguerite Palmer was a close acquaintance of Hanna Sheehy-Skeffington, and organised an IWFL meeting at the Phoenix Park with her which saw over 1000 women attend.

Marguerite Palmer was arrested on 13 June 1912 alongside Sheehy-Skeffington and six other women for breaking windows at Dublin Castle.

Marguerite Palmer was featured on the front cover of The Irish Citizen on 22 June 1912, with Sheehy-Skeffington and the Murphy sisters, under the headline "Prisoners for Liberty".

Marguerite Palmer heckled both Mr Birrell at a meeting of the Law Students Debating Society and Edward Carson at Rathmines Town Hall.

Marguerite Palmer was one of the organisers of the census boycott in Ireland, and lobbied Irish MPs on the second reading of the Conciliation Bill on behalf of the IWFL.

Marguerite Palmer was again imprisoned for breaking glass at the United Irish League on 16 May 1913, and was sent to Mountjoy Prison again for a sentence of 6 weeks for defaulting on a fine.

Marguerite Palmer was later transferred to Tullamore Gaol with Dora Ryan and Annie Walsh.

Marguerite Palmer remained a resident of Dublin for the rest of her life; she was widowed in March 1968 but her whereabouts following that remain unclear.