Richard Pankhurst
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Richard Marsden Pankhurst (May, 1834 - July 5, 1898) was the son of Henry Francis Pankhurst (1806-1873) and Margaret Marsden (1803-1879). He was educated at Manchster Grammar School and Owens College of Manchester. In 1858 he graduated BA from the University of London and in 1859 was awarded LLB with Honours. In 1863 he graduated LLD with gold medal. He was called to the Bar at Lincolns Inn in 1867 and joined the Northern Assizes circuit. He was also a member of the Bar of the County Palatine of Lancaster Court.
He married Emmeline Goulden, better known as Emmeline Pankhurst. Known as the "Red Doctor," he ran for Parliament in 1883 as candidate for Manchester and in 1885 for Rotherhithe, Kent, both times unsuccessfully. A friend of Keir Hardie, a pacifist, an agnostic, and a socialist, his controversial views did not win him many clients, but did afford him a place of great respect in the Independent Labour Party, even long after his death at the age of 64.
He was father to Adela Pankhurst, Christabel Pankhurst and Sylvia Pankhurst. He was buried alongside his parents in Brooklands Cemetery, Sale, Cheshire, where there is a headstone bearing their names.
[edit] References
Manchester Faces and Places Vol 4 Page 33 (1893)
