Suffragette Ethel Smyth

Ethel Smyth was a well known composer who joined the Women's Social and Political Union in 1910, after hearing Emmeline Pankhurst address a meeting at the home of Lady Brassey. Ethel composed the music for a piece which became known as 'The March of the Women' and which was used as a hymn and a 'call to battle' for Suffragettes. In March 1912 Ethel took part in the window smashing campaign throwing a stone through the window of Sir Lewis Harcourt's house because he had commented 'I don't object to women having the vote if they were all as intelligent and well balanced as my wife'. She was sentenced to 2 months imprisonment but was released early because the prison medical officer assessed her as being 'mentally unstable and highly hysterical and neurotic'.