Wolstenholme was the daughter of a Methodist minister, which made her politics as an adult all the more striking. A secularist and a committed sexual radical, she lived in a ‘free love’ union with feminist mill owner Ben Elmy for several years, only marrying him reluctantly when she became pregnant at the age of 41.

In 1866, she founded the Manchester Committee for the Enfranchisement of Women, and spent the next 50 years campaigning hard for women’s suffrage. She died on 12 March 1918, a little over a month after women were finally awarded the vote.

Stylist’s Visible Women campaign is dedicated to raising awareness of women who’ve made a difference, celebrating their success, and empowering future generations to follow their lead. See more from Visible Women here.

10 fascinating women engraved on the Millicent Fawcett statue