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

Wandsworth LGBT+ Forum

Wandsworth LGBT+ Forum

A group that focuses on the development and support of LGBT groups, organisations and projects so they can deliver direct services and campaign for individual rights.

Group, Gender Issues

2 memorials
Women's work in WW2

Women's work in WW2

The vital work done by over seven million women during World War II.

Group, Gender Issues

1 memorial
Brixton Black Women's Group

Brixton Black Women's Group

Started by Olive Morris and other women who had been active in the Black Panther Movement. It was formed to address the specific issues faced by black women, and to offer advice and support to thos...

Group, Community / Clubs, Gender Issues, Race Issues

2 memorials
Peter Tatchell

Peter Tatchell

Campaigner for human rights, gay freedom and social justice. Co-founder of Outrage!. Born Australia and began his campaigning there. To avoid conscription he moved to London in 1971 and here began ...

Person, Gender Issues, Politics & Administration, Australia

1 memorial
Chevalier d'Eon

Chevalier d'Eon

Diplomat and transvestite. Born Tonnerre, Burgundy, France. Full name: D'Éon de Beaumont, Charles Geneviève Louis Auguste André Timothée, born of the French nobility. Up until 1763 he had a disting...

Person, Espionage, Gender Issues, Politics & Administration, France

3 memorials