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Nov 15, 2019 · 1. Jane Austen. Getty. Author (December 16, 1775 – July 18, 1817) Perhaps one of the first modern-era feminists, Jane Austen’s literary work is still lauded around the world today. Known for her...
- Royalty and Warriors
- Politicians and Activists
- Authors and Scientists
- Athletes
- War Heroes
Boudicca
She was the rebel queen of the ancient British Celtic Iceni tribe, who led an army against the Romans in AD 60/61, securing her place in the history books as one of Britain’s most iconic rulers. After suffering a public flogging and witnessing the rape of her two daughters, Boudicca raised an army that destroyed Roman strongholds at Colchester, London and St Albans, killing between 70-80,000 people in the process. Eventually, Boudicca’s rebellionwas put down and she apparently poisoned hersel...
Æthelflæd - Lady of the Mercians
The eldest daughter of Alfred the Great, king of the Anglo-Saxon kingdom of Wessex, Æthelflædhelped lead the fight against the Vikings and lay the foundations for England. After her husband passed away, Æthelflæd took over the governing of the kingdom of Mercia, becoming the Lady of the Mercians - a truly remarkable accomplishment given the male-dominated times in which she lived. She went on the offensive against the Vikings and over the coming years played a significant role in the conquest...
Margaret Beaufort
A period of bloody civil strife known as the Wars of the Roses saw two royal houses vie for the English throne. Right in the middle of the conflict was Margaret Beaufort, whose life can best be surmised as a real-world Game of Thrones. A carrier of the Lancastrian bloodline, Beaufort was born into top nobility. A skilled politician, Beaufort spent her life brokering deals; she was the power behind the scenes, she was a Kingmaker. Never far from rumour and hearsay, Beaufort has been connected...
Suffragists and suffragettes
Democracy in Victorian Britain is not what it is today. Women were effectively treated as second-class citizens - unable to vote, sue or even own property. In the middle of the 19th century, things began to change and organised campaigns for ‘suffrage’ or the right to vote began to be seen. In 1897, the National Union of Women's Suffrage Societies was formed and its leader was Millicent Fawcett. Fawcett led the peaceful suffragist movement, which soon became the biggest women’s rights organis...
Margaret Thatcher
No one on this list divides opinion like Margaret Thatcher. Love her or loath her, the Iron lady was a trailblazer becoming Britain’s first female prime minister in 1979, as well as the longest-serving PM of the 20th century – 11 consecutive years. Through her unwavering leadership style and policies known as Thatcherism, she cemented her place as one of the most dominant figures in modern politics.
Anne Lister
Heralded as ‘the first modern lesbian’, Anne Listerkept an extensive diary that revealed her affairs with women as she attempted to understand and interpret her own gay identity. Challenging the gender expectations of women in 1800s Britain, Lister lived in a world where lesbianism was unrecognised. Such sexual relationships had no cultural understanding during that time. Lister, however, determinedly lived her life truthfully to who she was. Her writings have a significant place in history a...
Mary Anning
Through her findings, fossil collector and palaeontologist Mary Anningchanged the way we perceive our world. Anning resided in the seaside town of Lyme Regis in Dorset and would spend her days searching the coast for what she called 'curiosities'. She soon realised these were fossils and during her lifetime she made some significant discoveries. Although ineligible to join the Geological Society of London due to the fact she was a woman, Anning’s findings made a tremendous impact on the scien...
Jane Austen
Known for her six major novels including Pride & Prejudice and Emma, Austen helped shape the literary world into the one we have today. With her sharp wit and strong female characters, Austen's books have inspired countless other novels, TV adaptations and movies. Dying at the age of just 41, Austen wouldn't live to see the impact and legacy her works would have on British culture.
Lily Parr
A pioneer in the early years of women’s football, Lilian Parrwent from a working-class girl to an international sporting prodigy, as well as becoming an LGBT+ icon. Born in Lancashire, by the age of 14 Parr was scouted by a team representing a munitions factory in Preston called Dick, Kerr Ladies. During her first season, the winger scored 43 goals and showed remarkable prowess on the pitch. Known for her powerful kick, the highlight of Parr’s career came on Boxing Day 1920, when she played i...
The Lionesses
In 1966, England’s men’s team captured the World Cup at Wembley Stadium after beating West Germany 4-2 in extra time. Little did the country know it would have to wait another 56 years for another senior England team to lift a major trophy. Football finally came home in 2022 thanks to the England women's football team, aka the Lionesses. Under the helm of Dutch manager Sarina Wiegman, the Lionesses won the UEFA Women's Euro Championship in scenes remarkably reminiscent of 1966. Not only was t...
Odette Sansom
Espionage played a pivotal role in the Second World War. Intelligence was vital to planning and preparing military operations, therefore the role of British spies was crucial. In 1940, British PM Winston Churchill established the Special Operations Executive (SOE), an espionage force tasked to ‘Set Europe ablaze’. Odette Sansomwas a secret agent whose work for the SOE earned her the highest civilian honour for gallantry, the George Cross. Although initially evacuated from London with her thre...
Lilian Bader
During both the World Wars, the contributions of British black and ethnic minority individuals have long been overlooked. These trailblazers served their country often in the face of prejudice and discrimination. However, their determination and courage paved the way for others to follow. One such person was Lilian Bader. Born in Liverpool to a British mother and Barbadian father, Bader volunteered to serve Britain during WWII. She became one of the first black women to join the British armed...
- Lima Aafshid. Afghanistan Poet. Award-winning poet and writer, whose poetry and articles challenge patriarchal norms in Afghan culture. Lima Aafshid has worked as an independent reporter and social commentator for more than five years.
- Halima Aden. Kenya Humanitarian and former model. The first hijab-wearing supermodel, Halima Aden is a Somali by descent but was born in a refugee camp in Kenya.
- Oluyemi Adetiba-Orija. Nigeria Founder - Headfort Foundation. Criminal lawyer and founder of the all-women law firm Headfort Foundation, which offers pro-bono legal services.
- Muqadasa Ahmadzai. Afghanistan Social and political activist. She organised a network of more than 400 young women activists from Nangarhar province, in eastern Afghanistan, to travel to nearby districts and help survivors of domestic violence.
Jul 15, 2022 · The list, established to spotlight the most influential women in the UK, is steered by the culture and events of the day, and features extraordinary women excelling in all corners of life, from Sonia Boyce to Baroness Amos, Emma Raducanu to Jodie Comer.
- Jane Austen. Jane Austen's novels Pride and Prejudice and Emma are among some of her most famous works. Jane Austen's literary work helped to shape the novels we know today – her books from Pride & Prejudice to Emma are constant sources of inspiration for not just fiction, but films and TV shows too thanks to her sharp wit and tales of love and strong female characters.
- Margaret Busby. Margaret Busby had a huge impact on the British publishing industry.
- Millicent Fawcett. Millicent Fawcett was instrumental in securing the women's vote. Born in 1847 in Suffolk, Millicent Fawcett was a union leader who campaigned for women's right to vote and is considered an instrumental figure in getting the women's vote.
- Mary Seacole. Born in Jamaica, Mary Seacole moved to England in 1854, determined to travel to the Crimea and assist the troops as an army nurse. Later setting up the British Hotel on the Crimean peninsula, Mary was able to offer a mess table and comfortable quarters to officers in need.
Mar 8, 2016 · To mark Women’s History Month, staff at The History Press nominated eighteen inspirational females from throughout the ages. Here are our picks: Aethelflaed, Lady of the Mercians (c. 870 – 918 AD) 2018 marked 1,100 years since the death of Aethelflaed, the most powerful woman of the Anglo-Saxon era.
The BBC has revealed its list of 100 inspiring and influential women from around the world for 2022.
