{"id":2983,"date":"2023-10-30T06:59:10","date_gmt":"2023-10-30T06:59:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/edinburghka.com\/?p=2983"},"modified":"2025-03-18T12:50:20","modified_gmt":"2025-03-18T12:50:20","slug":"eliza-wigham-the-journey-of-a-renowned-suffragist-from-edinburgh","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/edinburghka.com\/en\/eternal-2983-eliza-wigham-the-journey-of-a-renowned-suffragist-from-edinburgh","title":{"rendered":"Eliza Wigham \u2013 The Journey of a Renowned Suffragist from Edinburgh"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>The history of the fight for women&#8217;s rights is full of interesting facts. But equally fascinating and inspiring were the women who fought for these rights. Each one of them can be considered an extraordinary person. As is well known, going &#8220;against the system&#8221; is not easy and can sometimes even be dangerous.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/edinburghka.com\/uk\">Edinburghka<\/a> will tell you more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Eliza Wigham was a well-known suffragist from Edinburgh in the 19th century. She was also deeply interested in abolitionism. She fought tirelessly for women&#8217;s rights and participated in large-scale campaigns aimed at securing women&#8217;s legal rights.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_74 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a7b45d87e6fb\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #090909;color:#090909\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #090909;color:#090909\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a7b45d87e6fb\"  aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/edinburghka.com\/en\/eternal-2983-eliza-wigham-the-journey-of-a-renowned-suffragist-from-edinburgh\/#The_Beginning_of_Her_Journey\" >The Beginning of Her Journey<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/edinburghka.com\/en\/eternal-2983-eliza-wigham-the-journey-of-a-renowned-suffragist-from-edinburgh\/#Activism\" >Activism<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/edinburghka.com\/en\/eternal-2983-eliza-wigham-the-journey-of-a-renowned-suffragist-from-edinburgh\/#A_Key_Event\" >A Key Event<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/edinburghka.com\/en\/eternal-2983-eliza-wigham-the-journey-of-a-renowned-suffragist-from-edinburgh\/#Reaching_a_New_Level\" >Reaching a New Level<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/edinburghka.com\/en\/eternal-2983-eliza-wigham-the-journey-of-a-renowned-suffragist-from-edinburgh\/#The_Book\" >The Book<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/edinburghka.com\/en\/eternal-2983-eliza-wigham-the-journey-of-a-renowned-suffragist-from-edinburgh\/#Later_Years\" >Later Years<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_Beginning_of_Her_Journey\"><\/span><strong>The Beginning of Her Journey<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Eliza&#8217;s life began on February 23, 1820, in Edinburgh.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Interestingly, her family belonged to the Quakers, a community known for actively opposing slavery, advocating for women&#8217;s equality, and pushing for reforms in prison conditions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s clear that her family\u2019s values influenced Eliza\u2019s development, leading her to pursue a career in activism later in life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, it would be a mistake to think that it was only this family background that led Eliza to feminism. After her mother\u2019s death, Eliza&#8217;s father remarried. His new wife was Jane Smill, a suffragist and abolitionist. It\u2019s not hard to imagine that the topic of women&#8217;s rights was frequently discussed in their home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Activism\"><\/span><strong>Activism<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Speaking of Eliza\u2019s activism, it\u2019s important to highlight the significant role played by the Edinburgh Society for the Liberation of Women, where she served as treasurer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This Edinburgh-based organization managed to survive for quite a long time. Compared to other abolitionist organizations, it was still functioning successfully in 1870, thanks in large part to Eliza and her stepmother Jane.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"A_Key_Event\"><\/span><strong>A Key Event<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>In 1840, Eliza and her friend Elizabeth Pease Nichol participated in the World Anti-Slavery Convention in London, a pivotal event in their advocacy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Reaching_a_New_Level\"><\/span><strong>Reaching a New Level<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Later, Eliza decided to take her activism to the next level and significantly expand her efforts. She aimed to achieve this by founding the Edinburgh branch of the National Society for Women\u2019s Suffrage. Eliza received support from her stepmother in this endeavor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The branch was successfully established, and each member found their place within it. Eliza and her friend Agnes MacLaren were entrusted with the roles of secretaries, Priscilla Bright MacLaren was appointed president, and Elizabeth Pease became the treasurer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_Book\"><\/span><strong>The Book<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>By 1863, Eliza was part of the committee of the London Women&#8217;s Emancipation Society. That year proved to be a significant milestone in her career as she became the author of the book <em>The Case Against Slavery in America and Its Martyrs<\/em>. Through this work, she hoped to influence the British government.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At the time, there were concerns that during the American Civil War, Britain might support the Confederacy, which would effectively mean the country was tacitly endorsing slavery. Eliza, as an abolitionist, strongly disagreed with this possibility.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Later_Years\"><\/span><strong>Later Years<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Regarding her personal life, it\u2019s worth noting that after her father\u2019s death in 1864, Eliza did not leave her stepmother\u2019s home and continued living there. Eliza and Jane had a close relationship, and she took care of her stepmother until Jane\u2019s death.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When her brother passed away in 1897, Eliza decided to sell the family home and move to Dublin, where some of her relatives lived.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.edinburghka.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/74\/2025\/03\/ad_4nxdqluifrzxftqetzlgh6k9qvdc6tqnssjdyoytiamgltdgwzqlvahoj0rlc45ailtbc_p5qnvch5mdqio2znpghqabto1cdphktv_px0am3fcfnbybhv-rf7tuxv3lmzbu0vuzlkgkeyvwjozjm6rt7w_w6wmri6rqbi.png\" alt=\"\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Eliza Wigham\u2019s journey as a suffragist and prominent activist came to an end in 1899. She passed away in the Irish suburb of Foxrock.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Her life can truly be described as a constant and determined fight for women&#8217;s rights. Her desire to protect women and make their lives better was Eliza\u2019s main goal. Therefore, the fact that women eventually began to openly express themselves, their professional ambitions, and plans owes much to the efforts of Eliza Wigham. She dedicated her life to this cause and, of course, became one of the most famous suffragists from Edinburgh.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Photo: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wikipedia.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">wikipedia<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The history of the fight for women&#8217;s rights is full of interesting facts. But equally fascinating and inspiring were the women who fought for these rights. Each one of them can be considered an extraordinary person. As is well known, going &#8220;against the system&#8221; is not easy and can sometimes even be dangerous. Edinburghka will [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":414,"featured_media":2990,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1035],"tags":[1587,1596,1590,1583,1576,1581,1589,1588,1577],"moimportance":[34,33],"motype":[1045],"moformat":[66],"class_list":{"0":"post-2983","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-psychology-of-women","8":"tag-activism","9":"tag-activity","10":"tag-feminism","11":"tag-law","12":"tag-protection","13":"tag-rights","14":"tag-speech","15":"tag-suffragism","16":"tag-womens-rights","17":"moimportance-golovna-novina","18":"moimportance-retranslyacziya-v-agregatori","19":"motype-eternal","20":"moformat-vlasna"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/edinburghka.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2983","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/edinburghka.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/edinburghka.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/edinburghka.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/414"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/edinburghka.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2983"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/edinburghka.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2983\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2988,"href":"https:\/\/edinburghka.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2983\/revisions\/2988"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/edinburghka.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2990"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/edinburghka.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2983"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/edinburghka.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2983"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/edinburghka.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2983"},{"taxonomy":"moimportance","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/edinburghka.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/moimportance?post=2983"},{"taxonomy":"motype","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/edinburghka.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/motype?post=2983"},{"taxonomy":"moformat","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/edinburghka.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/moformat?post=2983"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}