Margaret Haig Thomas

The 2nd Viscountess Rhondda
Margaret Mackworth, c. 1915
Born	Margaret Haig Thomas (1883-06-12)12 June 1883 Newport, Wales
Died	20 July 1958(1958-07-20) (aged 75) London, England, U.K.
Known for	Suffragette and women's rights campaigner; business woman; Lusitania survivor
Spouse(s)	Sir Humphrey Mackworth (1908–1922) (divorced)
Parent(s)	Sybil Margaret Haig David Alfred Thomas

Margaret Haig Mackworth, 2nd Viscountess Rhondda (12 June 1883 – 20 July 1958) was a Welsh peeress, businesswoman, and active suffragette. She was significant in the history of women's suffrage in the United Kingdom.

Margaret Haig Thomas was born on 12 June 1883 in London. Her parents were David Alfred Thomas, first Viscount Rhondda, and Sybil Haig, also a suffragette. In her autobiography, Margaret wrote that her mother had 'prayed passionately that her baby daughter might become feminist'. And indeed she did become a passionate activist for women's rights.

She was an only child, and although she was born in London, she lived in Llanwern, near Newport, until the age of 13 when she went away to boarding school, first to Notting Hill High School then St Leonards School in St Andrews. In 1904, aged 19, she took up a place at Somerville College, Oxford, where she studied history. Despite her tutors providing positive feedback on her academic progress, she returned to Llanwern to live with her family after two terms.

In 1908 she joined the Women's Social and Political Union (WSPU), and became secretary of its Newport branch and a supporter of its militant campaign. Between 1908 and 1914, she took the campaign for women's suffrage across South Wales, often to hostile and stormy meetings. She was involved in protest marches with the Pankhursts, jumping onto the running board of Liberal Prime Minister H. H. Asquith's car in St Andrews and attempting to destroy a post-box with a chemical bomb. These activities resulted in a trial at the Sessions House, Usk and her serving a period of time in the prison there. She was released only after going on a hunger strike.