Person    | Female  Born 1/10/1847  Died 20/9/1933

Annie Besant

Theosophist, women's rights activist, writer and orator and supporter of Irish and Indian self rule. Born Annie Wood at 2 Fish Street Hill. Married, aged 19, Frank Besant (brother to Sir Walter) but they separated for religious differences. Worked with Charles Bradlaugh of the National Secular Society and in 1877 published a pamphlet on contraception. Bradlaugh and Besant were arrested, conducted their own defence and got off on a technicality. The scandal had little effect on Bradlaugh's future political career but Besant was deemed unfit to care for her 2 children and Besant, her husband, gained permanent custody. We've read that Bradlaugh and Besant were living together so that may have been at the bottom of the decision.

Became interested in India and theosophy and in 1907 become the President of the Theosophical Society. From about 1893 she lived half each year in India, where she died.

Comments are provided by Facebook, please ensure you are signed in here to see them

This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
Annie Besant

Commemorated ati

Annie Besant - E3

This plaque was lost sometime July 2021 - August 2022. 

Read More

Annie Besant - SE19

Annie Besant, 1847 - 1933, social reformer, lived here in 1874. London County...

Read More

Hanbury Hall - blue oval plaque

This plaque has a shortened version of the text on the old white plaque.

Read More

Hanbury Hall - white plaque - removed

Christ Church Hall Built in 1719 as a French Hugeonot {sic} church it stood b...

Read More

Other Subjects

Women's Social and Political Union

Women's Social and Political Union

The leading militant organisation campaigning for women's suffrage, founded in 1903, was known from 1906 as the suffragettes. These were the women who set fire to post boxes, broke windows in promi...

Group, Gender Issues, Politics & Administration

4 memorials
Dr Annie McCall

Dr Annie McCall

One of the first women to qualify as a doctor, in 1885. Born Manchester. She studied abroad and in London. Once qualified she quickly started a clinic and school of midwifery in her own home at 165...

Person, Gender Issues, Medicine

1 memorial
Frederick Pethick-Lawrence

Frederick Pethick-Lawrence

Husband of Emmeline Pethick-Lawrence. Born London. Campaigned with his wife Emmeline for votes for women. Died at the Manor House Hospital, London.

Person, Gender Issues, Politics & Administration

3 memorials
Edith Mansell-Moullin

Edith Mansell-Moullin

Suffragist of Welsh heritage and social activist. Proud of her Welsh roots, she founded the Cymric Suffrage Union, which was dedicated to gaining the vote for Welsh women. She was the co-organizer ...

Person, Gender Issues, Wales

1 memorial
Nessie Stewart-Brown

Nessie Stewart-Brown

Suffragist and Liberal Party politician. Co-founder of Liverpool Women’s Suffrage Society, and led Women’s Liberal Federation branches in Liverpool. Born as Nessie Muspratt near Liverpool. 1888 Mar...

Person, Gender Issues, Politics & Administration

1 memorial