Florence Gertrude de Fonblanque

Florence de Fonblanque
Grave of Florence Gertrude de Fonblanque in Duncton
Born	Florence Gertrude Sparagnapane 22 July 1864 London
Died	2 December 1949 Duncton
Nationality	British
Known for	organising the "Brown Women" to march from Edinburgh to London
Spouse(s)	Robert Edgar De Grenier de Fonblanque

Florence Gertrude de Fonblanque born Florence Gertrude Sparagnapane (22 July 1864 – 2 December 1949) was a United Kingdom suffragist. She was the "Originator and leader of the women's suffrage march from Edinburgh to London 1912".

Fonblanque was born in London to a family who owned the Sparagnapane Christmas cracker and confectionery business. Her mother was Aurelia Williams and her father was Gaudente Sparagnapane. She was taught in Brussels and at Brighton and like her elder sister, Maud, she became an actress. She married a fellow actor, Robert Edgar De Grenier de Fonblanque, when she claimed to be 21 but she was actually 26. In time Robert was given the titles marquess of Juliers, comte de Hautserve, and comte de Fonblanque.

Like her sister she took an interest in women's suffrage. In 1906 she was living in Duncton near Chichester and over the next few years she joined a number of organisations agitating for women to have the vote. In 1912 she was a member of the Conservative and Unionist Women's Franchise Association.

Fonblanque decided to mount a march from Edinburgh to London to draw attention to the women's suffrage cause. She initially thought that walking to Edinburgh would be a good idea but it was decided to march from Edinburgh so that the march could end its publicity in London. Only six women including Agnes Brown and Sarah Benett who was the treasurer of the Women's Freedom League set off on 21 October 1912. Her sister and Ruth Cavendish Bentinck helped with the organisation. As they and Fonblanque traveled from Scotland to London they gathered signatures on a petition and coverage in the newspapers. Fonblanque ensure that they were dressed in brown with rosettes and bright green cockades and they were known as the "Brown Women". They followed the route of the A6 and they were joined by dignatories along the way. On one day near Berwick they walked over 30 miles before the now seven marchers were welcomed by the local member of parliament. Their numbers swelled slowly - when they passed through Grantham in November there were twelve walkers including Fonblanque.

Finally they got to London on 16 November where Fonblanque's horse and cart were sent back to Scotland. They went by tube to Trafalgar Square where the walkers entered to music. Her sister Maud Sennett had assisted the march by organising a reception for the marchers when they arrived.