´óÏó´«Ã½

The Girl Guides' Association is founded by Sir Robert Baden-Powell with his sister Agnes as its first president.

18 November is "Black Friday", when the suffragettes and police clash violently outside parliament following the failure of the first Conciliation Bill. One suffragette, Ellen Pitfield, later dies from her injuries.

Dame Ethel SmythÌý (1858-1944) composes "March of the Women", the suffragette battle-tune.

Hilda Hewlett is issued with license 122 making her the first British woman to qualify as a pilot.

The South African novelist and feminist, Olive Schreiner (1855-1920) publishes her feminist credo Women and Labour.

Marie CurieÌýis awarded the Nobel Prize for Chemistry making her the first person to receive the Nobel Prize twice.

Eleanor Davies-Colley becomes the first woman to be admitted to the Royal College of Surgeons.

The celebrated American composer, Amy Beach, arrives in Europe.

Sylvia PankhurstÌý (1882-1960) establishes her East London Federation of Suffragettes, predominantly for working class women in the East End.

The American pilot Harriet Quimby becomes the first woman to fly the English Channel.

Octavia HillÌý (1838-1912), housing pioneer and founder of the National Trust, dies.

In , women win the right to vote

Caroline Spurgeon (1869-1942) is appointed Professor of English Literature at London University, making her Britain's first official female professor.Ìý

The suffragette Emily Wilding Davison (1872-1913) is killed by the King's horse at the Epsom Derby.

On 26 July, 50,000 women taking part in a pilgrimage organised by the National Union of Women Suffrage Societies arrive in Hyde Park.

On 10 March, the suffragette Mary Richardson enters the National Gallery and slashes the Rokeby Venus.

The first women's police force, the Women Police Volunteers, are set up by Margaret Damer Dawson (1875-1920).

On 4 August, Britain declares war on Germany. During the four years of the First World WarÌý there were huge changes for women.

Following the outbreak of war, the Scottish Women's Hospitals movement is set up byÌýDr Elsie InglisÌý (1864-1917).

1500 women from Northern Europe and the USA meet to discuss peace at the first International Congress of Women in The Hague.Ìý The American suffrage campaigner, Jane Addams (1860-1935) is its first president.

The first Women's Institute in Britain is founded in North Wales at Llanfairpwll.

The English nurse Edith Cavell (1865-1915) is executed by the Germans for helping allied prisoners to escape.

The Prisoners' Temporary Discharge for Ill-Health Act, also known asÌý"The Cat and Mouse Act", is introduced for suffragettes who refuse to eat.

The Women's Army Auxiliary Corps is set up under the leadership of Mona Watson and Helen Gwynne-Vaughan.

Olive Baden Powell, wife of Robert, is made Chief Commissioner for the Girl Guides. She was elected Chief Guide of the World in 1930.

Alexandra Kollantai (1872-1952) is appointed to Lenin's Bolshevik government as the People's Commissioner for Public Welfare, making her the first woman minister in the world.

Mata Hari is executed in Paris as a spy.

Annie BesantÌý (1847-1933), social campaigner and theosophist, is elected the fifth president of the Indian National Congress.

The Women's Land Army is established.

The Women's Royal Air Force (WRAF) is set up with Gertrude Crawford as its first commandant.

The Women's Royal Naval Service (WRNS) is formed under the direction of Dame Katherine Furse.

Russia gives votes to women.

The Representation of the People Act is passedÌýgiving votes to womenÌý provided they are aged over thirty and either they, or their husband, meet a property qualification.

The Parliamentary Qualification of Women Act is is passed enabling women to stand as a Member of Parliament.

Women in Britain vote in a General Election for the first time on 14 December. Constance MarkiewiczÌý (1868-1927)Ìýis elected as the first woman MP for Sinn Fein although she declined to take her seat.

Germany gives votes to women.

The Maternal and Child Welfare Act is passed empowering local authorities to provide new services such as day nurseries, health visitors and child welfare clinics.

Under the Education Act all children have to attend school until the age of 14 and half-time work for children is abolished.

Marie StopesÌý (1880-1958) publishes her pioneering book on sex, Married Love.

The National Union of Women's Suffrage Societies changes its name to the National Union of Societies of Equal Citizenship. Millicent Garrett FawcettÌý retires and the leadership is taken over by Eleanor RathboneÌý (1872-1946).

The Registration of Nurses Act is introduced following a campaign by the nursing pioneer Ethel Fenwick (1857-1947).

The Sex Disqualification Removal Act is passed ensuring women's entry into the professions. For the first time women could become lawyers, vets, and civil servants.

On 28 November Nancy AstorÌý (1879-1964) is elected MP for Plymouth Sutton and becomes the first woman to take her seat in the House of Commons.

Save the Children is set up by Eglantyne Jebb, (1876-1928) following her experiences with refugee children during the First World War.

The German revolutionist, Rosa Luxembourg, is assassinated.

Elaine Burton is the first woman to race in shorts at the English Northern Counties Athletic Champions.

French tennis player Suzanne Lenglen (1899-1938) wins Wimbledon for the first time. She shocks the world by insisting on playing in a short dress.