http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/USAWburns.htm
Lucy Burns
1879-1966
Lucy Burns was born in Brooklyn, New Jersey, on 28th July, 1879. An Irish Catholic <REcatholic.htm>, Burns studied at Vassar and Yale Graduation School before teaching English at Erasmus High School. 

In 1906 Burns moved to <Germany.htm> to study languages. This included spells at the University of Berlin (1906-1908) and the University of Bonn (1908) before continuing her studies at Oxford University <EDoxford.htm>.

While in England, Burns joined the Women's Social and Political Union  <Wwspu.htm>(WSPU) and her activities resulted in her being arrested and imprisoned. She met Alice Paul <USApaul.htm>, another American working with the WSPU and when they returned home they formed the Congressional Union for Women Suffrage <USAWcuws.htm> (CUWS). 

Burns and Paul attempted to introduce the militant methods used by the Women's Social and Political Union <Wwspu.htm> in Britain. This included organizing huge demonstrations and the daily picketing of the White House. 

After the United States joined the First World War <FWW.htm>, Burns was continually assaulted by patriotic male bystanders, while picketing outside the White House. Arrested several times, she spent more time prison than any other American suffragist.
Burns retired from political life after women in the United States <USA.htm> got the vote. Lucy Burns died on 22nd December, 1966.