Emily Sturge

Emily Sturge (20 April 1847 – 3 June 1892) was a British campaigner for women's education. She was secretary of the west of England branch of the National Society for Women's Suffrage. Life Sturge was born in 1847 in Cotham, Bristol. She was the first of eleven children born to Charlotte Allen and William Sturge. The Sturge family were prominent amongst British Quakers and related by marriage to many of the other leading Quaker families. Her siblings were Margaret, Elizabeth, William, Mary, John, Charles, Guli, Helen Maria, Clement and Caroline. Five of the Sturge daughters, including Emily, would be involved in improving the prospects for women to gain a higher education, but Emily and Elizabeth were the leading lights. Emily's own education ceased at the age of fourteen but her younger sisters were able to go on to higher education. She was a leader in the Bristol Women's Liberal Association where she campaigned for women's rights including by electoral reform. University College in Bristol was founded in 1876, although it was not recognised as a university until 1909. The University College arranged lectures that women including the Sturge sisters could attend.