Kate Sheppard

10 March 1848 – 13 July 1934

Kate Sheppard was the most prominent leader of the women's suffrage movement in New Zealand. Through her work with the Woman's Christian Temperance Union she organised the mass petitions that helped make New Zealand, in 1893, the first self-governing country to grant women the vote. She later served as the first president of the National Council of Women of New Zealand.

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Life events

Born in Liverpool, England
10 March 1848

Kate Sheppard was born Catherine Wilson Malcolm in Liverpool to Scottish parents.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Emigrated to New Zealand
c. 1868

Following her father's death, Sheppard emigrated with her family to Christchurch, New Zealand.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Married Walter Allen Sheppard
1871

She married Walter Allen Sheppard, a Christchurch merchant and later city councillor.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Joined the Woman's Christian Temperance Union of New Zealand
1885

Sheppard became a founding member of the New Zealand WCTU, through which she began campaigning for women's rights.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Appointed leader of the WCTU suffrage campaign
1887

As national superintendent of the WCTU's franchise department, Sheppard led the organised campaign for women's suffrage in New Zealand.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Presented the 1893 suffrage petition to Parliament
July 1893

Sheppard organised a petition of nearly 32,000 signatures, the largest yet presented to the New Zealand Parliament, demanding votes for women.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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New Zealand granted women the vote
19 September 1893

The Electoral Act 1893 received royal assent, making New Zealand the first self-governing country to give all adult women the right to vote in parliamentary elections.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Became first president of the National Council of Women of New Zealand
1896

Sheppard was elected the founding president of the National Council of Women of New Zealand.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Married William Lovell-Smith
1925

Widowed in 1915, Sheppard married her longtime friend and fellow reformer William Lovell-Smith.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Died in Christchurch, New Zealand
13 July 1934

Sheppard died in Christchurch; she is commemorated on the New Zealand ten-dollar note.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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