Richard Pankhurst

Richard Pankhurst
Richard Pankhurst (1879)
Born	1835/6 Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, England
Died	5 July 1898 (aged 62) Victoria Park, Manchester, England
Cause of death	Stomach ulcers
Burial place	Brooklands Cemetery
Education	University of London (1858: B.A.; 1859: LL.B.; 1863: LL.D.)
Alma mater	Manchester Grammar School Owens College
Occupation	Barrister
Spouse(s)	Emmeline Goulden
Children	5, including Christabel, Sylvia, and Adela Pankhurst

Richard Marsden Pankhurst (1835/6 – 5 July 1898) was an English barrister and supporter of women's rights.

Richard Pankhurst was the son of Henry Francis Pankhurst (1806-1873) and Margaret Marsden (1803-1879). Pankhurst was born in Stoke but spent most of his life in Manchester and London. He was educated at Manchester Grammar School and Owens College of Manchester. In 1858 he graduated B.A. from the University of London and in 1859 was awarded LL.B. with Honours. In 1863 he graduated LL.D. with gold medal.

He was called to the Bar at Lincoln's Inn in 1867 and joined the Northern Assizes circuit. He was also a member of the Bar of the County Palatine of Lancaster Court.

Following qualification he was a founder member of the Manchester Liberal Association, although he was subsequently to fall out with the Liberals. He campaigned for multiple causes, including free speech, universal free secular education, republicanism, home rule for the Irish, independence for India, nationalisation of land, the disestablishment of the Church of England and the abolition of the House of Lords. He established a National Society for Women's Suffrage, drafted the Women's Disabilities Removal Bill (the first women's suffrage bill in England) and was author of the bill which became the Married Women's Property Act 1882 which gave wives absolute control over their property and earnings.