Lucy Burns

Early Life and Background

Lucy Burns was born on July 28, 1879, in Brooklyn, New York, to an Irish Catholic family. She was the fourth of eight children. Her father, Edward Burns, nurtured her by bringing home books to read. Lucy excelled academically, attending Packer Collegiate Institute, Vassar College, Yale University for graduate courses, and later the University of Oxford and University of Berlin.

Career Beginnings and Development

Burns initially sought a career in education, working as an English teacher. However, her trajectory shifted while in Europe, where she met radical suffragettes in Britain, including Emmeline Pankhurst and the Women's Social and Political Union (WSPU). Inspired by their militancy, Burns was heavily involved in campaigns for women's enfranchisement in the UK, which honed her organizing and advocacy skills.

Major Works, Discoveries, or Accomplishments

Returning to the United States, Burns partnered with Alice Paul, advocating for a constitutional amendment to grant women suffrage. In 1913, they co-founded the Congressional Union for Woman Suffrage, which became the National Woman's Party. Known for their innovative tactics, they organized the 1913 Woman Suffrage Procession and initiated the first suffrage picket of the White House in 1917. Burns famously endured imprisonment and hunger strikes for her activism.

Awards, Honors, and Recognition

While Burns received no formal awards during her lifetime, her contributions to women's rights have been posthumously recognized in historical accounts and suffrage centennial celebrations.

Personal Life

Bucking the norms of her era, Burns never married nor had children, dedicating her life to the cause of women's suffrage.

Legacy and Historical Impact

Burns remains a seminal figure in the women's suffrage movement. Her partnership with Alice Paul and the founding of the National Woman's Party spearheaded pivotal changes in legislation, culminating in the passage of the 19th Amendment in 1920. She has been lauded for bringing strategic international perspectives to the American movement.

Later Life and Death

Burns retired from public life after the ratification of the 19th Amendment. She lived out her remaining years in relative privacy, caring for her family in New York. Lucy Burns passed away on December 22, 1966.