<P> Emily Wilding Davison (11 October 1872--8 June 1913) was a suffragette who fought for votes for women in the United Kingdom in the early twentieth century . A member of the Women's Social and Political Union (WSPU) and a militant fighter for her cause, she was arrested on nine occasions, went on hunger strike seven times and was force fed on forty - nine occasions . She died after being hit by King George V's horse Anmer at the 1913 Epsom Derby when she walked onto the track during the race . </P> <P> Davison grew up in a middle - class family, and studied at Royal Holloway College, London, and St Hugh's College, Oxford, before taking jobs as a teacher and governess . She joined the WSPU in November 1906 and became an officer of the organisation and a chief steward during marches . She soon became known in the organisation for her daring militant action; her tactics included breaking windows, throwing stones, setting fire to postboxes and, on three occasions, hiding overnight in the Palace of Westminster--including on the night of the 1911 census . Her funeral on 14 June 1913 was organised by the union . A procession of 5,000 suffragettes and their supporters accompanied her coffin and 50,000 people lined the route through London; her coffin was then taken by train to the family plot in Morpeth, Northumberland . </P>

Who ran out in front of the king's horse