Towards the end of the First World War, Sylvia Pankhurst (1882-1960) moved in with the Italian anarchist, Silvio Corio (1875-1954) in London. In 1927, Sylvia gave birth to a son, Richard Keir Pethick Pankhurst (1927-2017). Her mother, Emmeline, held the opinion that children should not be born out of wedlock. Sylvia, on the other hand, objected to marriage and taking a husband’s surname. When Emmeline asked for the name of Richard’s father, Sylvia responded, “an old dear friend whom I have loved for years.” She declined to give her mother Silvio Corio’s name, and Emmeline refused to speak to her daughter for the rest of her life.

Born in Old Trafford, Manchester on 5th May 1882, Estelle Sylvia Pankhurst was the second of three daughters. While attending art college, Sylvia noted the lack of opportunities for women in the art sector. Determined to do something about this, Sylvia and her friends established the East London Confederation of Suffragettes, which later amalgamated with the Women’s Social and Political Union (WSPU).

Sylvia was already on shaky ground with her mother after involving herself with the Labour Party, which went against the rules of the WSPU. When news of Sylvia's illegitimate child came out, many misunderstood it to be Christabel's child. Allegedly, Emmeline spent an entire day crying because Sylvia's reputation had also ruined her sister's. A year later, Emmeline's health declined and she passed away, having never spoken to Sylvia again.

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