Violet Aitken was a British suffragette. She was born Marion Violet Aitken, preferred Violet, and raised in Bedfordshire, and she was the daughter of William Aitken, who became Canon of Norwich Cathedral. She had a sister Rose who took up theosophy. Theosophy (from Greek θεοσοφία theosophia, from θεός theos, God + σοφία sophia, wisdom; literally 'God's wisdom'), refers to systems of esoteric philosophy concerning, or investigation seeking direct knowledge of, presumed mysteries of being and nature, particularly concerning the nature of divinity.
Theosophy is considered a part of the broader field of esotericism, referring to hidden knowledge or wisdom that offers the individual enlightenment and salvation. The theosophist seeks to understand the mysteries of the universe and the bonds that unite the universe, humanity, and the divine. The goal of theosophy is to explore the origin of divinity and humanity, and the world. From investigation of those topics, theosophists try to discover a coherent description of the purpose and origin of the universe.)
She became a suffragette and editor of The Suffragette and was imprisoned and force-fed.
Movement: Women's Social and Political Union (WSPU)
Known for: Suffragette
The daughter of Canon WHMH (Hay) Aitken of Norwich Cathedral, Violet was a Suffragette prisoner and hunger striker, briefly employed as full-time worker on The Suffragette.
Violet was born 21 January 1886 in Bedford, Bedfordshire, and is believed to have died aged 101 in November 1987 in Hertfordshire.
Aitken became active in the women's suffrage movement in the Women's Social and Political Union (WSPU) of the Pankhursts. In November 1911, she held the bridle of a police horse during a WSPU protest, and was arrested and sent to Holloway prison.
In March 1912, she and Clara Giveen were arrested for damaging £100 of windows at Jay's clothing shop in London's Regent Street.
In June 1912, she was released from Winson Green, having been transferred due to prison overcrowding, but near the end of a four-month prison sentence, during which she was force-fed after going on hunger strike. Aitken was awarded a Hunger Strike Medal 'for valour' by WSPU.
Her father and mother were pained by her involvement in violent protests, as he wrote in his diary, although he later recognised women's calls for being allowed to vote were 'after all only an act of justice'.
The Rev W Hay Aitken is found on the Passenger lists for the ship Teutonic from Liverpool to New York which arrived on 23 October 1895. He is described as a Clergyman from Bedford in transit to Montreal (with 7 pieces of luggage). The Reverend returned on the Sardinian arriving back in Liverpool on 13 May 1896. He died on 28 October 1927.
Diaries, Letters and Papers of Canon W.H.M.H. Aitken
Diaries of W.H.M.H. Aitken
The 1891 Census (RG12/1249/108/15 and 16) shows Marian Violet aged 5 living at 33 Lansdowne Road in St Paul’s Bedford with her family, her father is described as a Clerk in Holy Orders.
The 1901 Census (RG13/1489/166/35) shows Marian Violet now aged 15 still at 33 Lansdowne Road in St Paul’s Bedford though at this time the father William Hay McDowell Aitken is not present at the address.
Parents:
Rev William Hay Macdowall Hunter Aitken 1841–1927
m. 17 Jul 1867 St Jude, Mildmay Grove, Islington, England
Eleanor Marian Barker 1844–1935
Theosophy is considered a part of the broader field of esotericism, referring to hidden knowledge or wisdom that offers the individual enlightenment and salvation. The theosophist seeks to understand the mysteries of the universe and the bonds that unite the universe, humanity, and the divine. The goal of theosophy is to explore the origin of divinity and humanity, and the world. From investigation of those topics, theosophists try to discover a coherent description of the purpose and origin of the universe.)
She became a suffragette and editor of The Suffragette and was imprisoned and force-fed.
Movement: Women's Social and Political Union (WSPU)
Known for: Suffragette
The daughter of Canon WHMH (Hay) Aitken of Norwich Cathedral, Violet was a Suffragette prisoner and hunger striker, briefly employed as full-time worker on The Suffragette.
Violet was born 21 January 1886 in Bedford, Bedfordshire, and is believed to have died aged 101 in November 1987 in Hertfordshire.
Aitken became active in the women's suffrage movement in the Women's Social and Political Union (WSPU) of the Pankhursts. In November 1911, she held the bridle of a police horse during a WSPU protest, and was arrested and sent to Holloway prison.
In March 1912, she and Clara Giveen were arrested for damaging £100 of windows at Jay's clothing shop in London's Regent Street.
In June 1912, she was released from Winson Green, having been transferred due to prison overcrowding, but near the end of a four-month prison sentence, during which she was force-fed after going on hunger strike. Aitken was awarded a Hunger Strike Medal 'for valour' by WSPU.
Her father and mother were pained by her involvement in violent protests, as he wrote in his diary, although he later recognised women's calls for being allowed to vote were 'after all only an act of justice'.
The Rev W Hay Aitken is found on the Passenger lists for the ship Teutonic from Liverpool to New York which arrived on 23 October 1895. He is described as a Clergyman from Bedford in transit to Montreal (with 7 pieces of luggage). The Reverend returned on the Sardinian arriving back in Liverpool on 13 May 1896. He died on 28 October 1927.
Diaries, Letters and Papers of Canon W.H.M.H. Aitken
Diaries of W.H.M.H. Aitken
The 1891 Census (RG12/1249/108/15 and 16) shows Marian Violet aged 5 living at 33 Lansdowne Road in St Paul’s Bedford with her family, her father is described as a Clerk in Holy Orders.
The 1901 Census (RG13/1489/166/35) shows Marian Violet now aged 15 still at 33 Lansdowne Road in St Paul’s Bedford though at this time the father William Hay McDowell Aitken is not present at the address.
Parents:
Rev William Hay Macdowall Hunter Aitken 1841–1927
m. 17 Jul 1867 St Jude, Mildmay Grove, Islington, England
Eleanor Marian Barker 1844–1935
Violet Aitken was a British suffragette. She was born Marion Violet Aitken, preferred Violet, and raised in Bedfordshire, and she was the daughter of William Aitken, who became Canon of Norwich Cathedral. She had a sister Rose who took up theosophy. Theosophy (from Greek θεοσοφία theosophia, from θεός theos, God + σοφία sophia, wisdom; literally 'God's wisdom'), refers to systems of esoteric philosophy concerning, or investigation seeking direct knowledge of, presumed mysteries of being and nature, particularly concerning the nature of divinity.
Theosophy is considered a part of the broader field of esotericism, referring to hidden knowledge or wisdom that offers the individual enlightenment and salvation. The theosophist seeks to understand the mysteries of the universe and the bonds that unite the universe, humanity, and the divine. The goal of theosophy is to explore the origin of divinity and humanity, and the world. From investigation of those topics, theosophists try to discover a coherent description of the purpose and origin of the universe.)
She became a suffragette and editor of The Suffragette and was imprisoned and force-fed.
Movement: Women's Social and Political Union (WSPU)
Known for: Suffragette
The daughter of Canon WHMH (Hay) Aitken of Norwich Cathedral, Violet was a Suffragette prisoner and hunger striker, briefly employed as full-time worker on The Suffragette.
Violet was born 21 January 1886 in Bedford, Bedfordshire, and is believed to have died aged 101 in November 1987 in Hertfordshire.
Aitken became active in the women's suffrage movement in the Women's Social and Political Union (WSPU) of the Pankhursts. In November 1911, she held the bridle of a police horse during a WSPU protest, and was arrested and sent to Holloway prison.
In March 1912, she and Clara Giveen were arrested for damaging £100 of windows at Jay's clothing shop in London's Regent Street.
In June 1912, she was released from Winson Green, having been transferred due to prison overcrowding, but near the end of a four-month prison sentence, during which she was force-fed after going on hunger strike. Aitken was awarded a Hunger Strike Medal 'for valour' by WSPU.
Her father and mother were pained by her involvement in violent protests, as he wrote in his diary, although he later recognised women's calls for being allowed to vote were 'after all only an act of justice'.
The Rev W Hay Aitken is found on the Passenger lists for the ship Teutonic from Liverpool to New York which arrived on 23 October 1895. He is described as a Clergyman from Bedford in transit to Montreal (with 7 pieces of luggage). The Reverend returned on the Sardinian arriving back in Liverpool on 13 May 1896. He died on 28 October 1927.
Diaries, Letters and Papers of Canon W.H.M.H. Aitken
Diaries of W.H.M.H. Aitken
The 1891 Census (RG12/1249/108/15 and 16) shows Marian Violet aged 5 living at 33 Lansdowne Road in St Paul’s Bedford with her family, her father is described as a Clerk in Holy Orders.
The 1901 Census (RG13/1489/166/35) shows Marian Violet now aged 15 still at 33 Lansdowne Road in St Paul’s Bedford though at this time the father William Hay McDowell Aitken is not present at the address.
Parents:
Rev William Hay Macdowall Hunter Aitken 1841–1927
m. 17 Jul 1867 St Jude, Mildmay Grove, Islington, England
Eleanor Marian Barker 1844–1935
Theosophy is considered a part of the broader field of esotericism, referring to hidden knowledge or wisdom that offers the individual enlightenment and salvation. The theosophist seeks to understand the mysteries of the universe and the bonds that unite the universe, humanity, and the divine. The goal of theosophy is to explore the origin of divinity and humanity, and the world. From investigation of those topics, theosophists try to discover a coherent description of the purpose and origin of the universe.)
She became a suffragette and editor of The Suffragette and was imprisoned and force-fed.
Movement: Women's Social and Political Union (WSPU)
Known for: Suffragette
The daughter of Canon WHMH (Hay) Aitken of Norwich Cathedral, Violet was a Suffragette prisoner and hunger striker, briefly employed as full-time worker on The Suffragette.
Violet was born 21 January 1886 in Bedford, Bedfordshire, and is believed to have died aged 101 in November 1987 in Hertfordshire.
Aitken became active in the women's suffrage movement in the Women's Social and Political Union (WSPU) of the Pankhursts. In November 1911, she held the bridle of a police horse during a WSPU protest, and was arrested and sent to Holloway prison.
In March 1912, she and Clara Giveen were arrested for damaging £100 of windows at Jay's clothing shop in London's Regent Street.
In June 1912, she was released from Winson Green, having been transferred due to prison overcrowding, but near the end of a four-month prison sentence, during which she was force-fed after going on hunger strike. Aitken was awarded a Hunger Strike Medal 'for valour' by WSPU.
Her father and mother were pained by her involvement in violent protests, as he wrote in his diary, although he later recognised women's calls for being allowed to vote were 'after all only an act of justice'.
The Rev W Hay Aitken is found on the Passenger lists for the ship Teutonic from Liverpool to New York which arrived on 23 October 1895. He is described as a Clergyman from Bedford in transit to Montreal (with 7 pieces of luggage). The Reverend returned on the Sardinian arriving back in Liverpool on 13 May 1896. He died on 28 October 1927.
Diaries, Letters and Papers of Canon W.H.M.H. Aitken
Diaries of W.H.M.H. Aitken
The 1891 Census (RG12/1249/108/15 and 16) shows Marian Violet aged 5 living at 33 Lansdowne Road in St Paul’s Bedford with her family, her father is described as a Clerk in Holy Orders.
The 1901 Census (RG13/1489/166/35) shows Marian Violet now aged 15 still at 33 Lansdowne Road in St Paul’s Bedford though at this time the father William Hay McDowell Aitken is not present at the address.
Parents:
Rev William Hay Macdowall Hunter Aitken 1841–1927
m. 17 Jul 1867 St Jude, Mildmay Grove, Islington, England
Eleanor Marian Barker 1844–1935
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