Catherine Corbett

Catherine Isobel Ida Corbett ( Vans Agnew; 1869–1950) was a British suffragette, one of those imprisoned and awarded the Hunger Strike Medal, for the cause of the Women's Social and Political Union.

Life Catherine Corbett was born Catherine Isobel Ida Vans Agnew in 1869 to George Vans Agnew from Wigtownshire, Scotland and Rosa Coppard Wilson. She had four brothers and one sister. In the family, at least, she was always known as Ida.

She married Frank Corbett on 22 October 1895 and was widowed in 1912.

Corbett was described as "a tall, dark and handsome lady".

Corbett was one of those seen pestering the Prime Minister H. H. Asquith at 10 Downing Street to receive their women's suffrage group to discuss legislation and she then informed the waiting press that the Prime Minister had said 'I think you are very silly".

Corbett's involvement is referenced in the updated (2007) fictional Suffragette Sally, originally published in 1911 but based on real incidents.

Later the same year, in Dundee, Corbett was with Adela Pankhurst, Maud Joachim, Helen Archdale and Laura Evans and two Dundee men, Owen Clark and William Carr who supported their cause, to disrupt a meeting of Winston Churchill, MP in the Kinnaird Hall. Corbett and Helen Archdale made an impact by jumping off a tram and gathering local people around to 'rush' the barricades round the building, waving the WSPU colours and shouting 'Votes for Women'. The riot, supported by local Dundonians, lasted for three hours, attracting mounted police and the use of police batons was needed to clear the protestors and lock them in the basement.

When Corbett and the others were released, they were greeted by 'General" Flora Drummond and suffragettes at the prison gate.

Death Corbett died in Surrey in 1950.