Mrs Annie Besant (née Woods) (1 October 1847–20 September 1933)

British Theosophist, Socialist, Educationist and Indian Politician. Besant was a supporter of Indian and Irish self-rule and women's rights. Born Annie Woods in London and educated in Charmouth, Dorset form the age of 9 by wealthy Ellen Marryat. By the age of 16 she was devoutly religious and married the Reverend Frank Besant in 1867. Frank's brother was Sir Walter Besant. Following a near fatal illness of their daughter Mabel she lost her faith. The marriage did not survive her loss of faith and the couple separated although never divorced. In 1874 Annie moved to London where she was introduced to free-thinkers and wrote for the National Reformer. She established a close professional acquaintance with President of the National Secular Society, Charles Bradlaugh, with whom she set up the Freethought Publishing Company. An advocate of birth control, her publication on the subject lead to the loss of custody of her daughter on the grounds that her views made her unfit to raise a young girl. George Bernard Shaw introduced Annie to the Fabian Society and in 1885 she became an executive member. In 1888 she became interested in Theosophy which led her to India in 1893 when she was invited by Colonel Olcott, President of the Theosophical Society. There she immersed herself in Hindu culture and religion and supported Indian independence. In 1897 she founded the Central Hindu College and also translated the Bhagavad Gita into English. Annie remained in politics in India and became President of the Theosophical Society. She died in Adyar, India.