Nakano Takeko (1847-1868) was a Japanese onna-bugeisha (woman fighter), who led a unit of women into battle during the Boshin War. The Boshin War Daughter of Nakano Heina, official of Aizu (in the Tōhoku region, northeast of Honshū Island, the main island of Japan), Nakano Takeko was born in Edo (
Also known as Chang I Sao or Madame Tsching, Ching Shih, “the Terror of South China” (1784 – 1844 ) commanded one of the most powerful pirate fleets in history; so powerful that no navy has ever been able to defeat it. The Red Flag Fleet Little is known about the childhood of Ching Shih, who is f
Yaa Asantewaa (circa 1840–1921), Queen of Ejisu in the Ashanti Empire (now Ghana), led a rebellion against English settlers in the early 20th century. The anti-colonialist war it leads is called the “War of the Golden Stool”. Regent of Ejisu Born around 1840, Yaa Asantewaa is the sister of Nana Kw
Emily Elizabeth Dickinson (1830 – 1886) was an American poet. His work, considered a classic of American literature, was not published during his lifetime. A wise childhood Daughter of Edward Dickinson, lawyer and senator, and Emily Norcross of Monson, Emily Elizabeth Dickinson was born on Decembe
Victoria, born Alexandrina Victoria (1819 – 1901) is a famous Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland who also became Queen of Canada, Empress of India and Queen of Australia. His 63-year reign is one of the longest in UK history. A strict upbringing Born May 24, 1819, Alexandrina
Nathalie Duval became Lemel (1827 – 1921), was an anarchist and feminist activist. She notably participated in the Paris Commune of 1871 and was deported to New Caledonia with Louise Michel. The International Association of Workers Nathalie Duval was born on August 26, 1827 in Brest, where her pa
Ranavalona Ire (circa 1788 – 1861) reigned for thirty-three years over the kingdom of Madagascar from 1828 to 1861. His reign was marked by a struggle against the expansionism of Europe and a certain authoritarianism. Queen of Madagascar Rabodonandrianampoinimerina (the ingenuous granddaughter of
Soma, later known as Madam Yoko (ca. 1849 – 1906) was a leader of the Mende people in Sierra Leone. King of the Senehun tribe Soma was born around 1849 in the village of Gbo, Sierra Leone, into a rather wealthy family. At the age of 12, Soma goes to the forest to pass the initiatory test called Sa
Susan Brownell Anthony (1820 – 1906) was an American civil rights activist, very involved in the fight for womens suffrage. First feminist struggles Second daughter of Lucy Read and Daniel Anthony who would have seven children, Susan was born on February 15, 1820 in West Grove, in Massachusetts. S
Escaped slave, Araminta Ross, known as Harriet Tubman (between 1820 and 1825 – 1913) was a human rights activist, who participated in many ways in the fight against slavery and racism. The violence of the masters Araminta Ross was born between 1820 and 1825 on a plantation in Maryland (USA), to s
Cécile Kahn, now Cécile Brunschvicg (1877 – 1946) was a French politician and feminist. In 1936, she was one of the first three women to be part of a French government, along with Irène Joliot-Curie and Suzanne Lacore, when women did not yet have the right to vote. Secret studies Daughter of Arth
Emily Jane Bronte (1818 – 1848) was an English writer, poet and novelist, sister of Charlotte Brontë and Anne Brontë. His only novel is a monument of British literature. The dramatic boarding school Daughter of Maria and Patrick Brontë, fifth in a family of six children (Maria, Elizabeth, Charlott
Bertha Sophie Felicitas Countess Kinský von Chinic und Tettau, or Baroness von Suttner (1843 – 1914), was an Austrian pacifist. Winner of the Nobel Peace Prize in 1905, she is one of the first people and the first woman to obtain this prize. Private Secretary to Alfred Nobel Born in Prague on June
Gertrude Stein (1874 – 1946) was an American woman of letters and feminist, who spent most of her life in France and contributed greatly to the development of modern art and literature. Anti-conformist Gertrude Stein was born on February 3, 1874 on the outskirts of Pittsburgh, United States. She
Sophie Rostopchine, Countess of Ségur, ( 1799 – 1874) is a French woman of letters of Russian origin, whose very moralizing writings have become great classics. A childhood in Russia Born on August 1, 1799 in Saint-Petersburg, Sophie Rostopchin was the third child of a Russian noble family in Mong
Ada Byron, who by marriage became Ada Lovelace (1815 – 1852) is known for translating and annotating a description of Charles Babbages Analytical Engine, an ancestor of the computer. Her notes contain the first algorithm intended to be executed by a machine and Ada Lovelace is considered the first
Lucy Stone (1818 – 1893) was an American feminist and abolitionist. She is also the first woman from Massachusetts to earn a college degree and the first American woman to keep her birth name after marriage. First feminist fights The eighth child of a family of farmers, Lucy Stone was born on Augu
Empress Myeongseong (1851 – 1895), also known as Queen Min, was the first official wife of King Gojong of Korea. Exercising the reality of power and opposing the expansionist policy of Japan, she died assassinated by her enemies. Queen consort Daughter of Min Chi-Rock, of the aristocratic Min fam
Emily and Annes sister, Charlotte Brontë (1816 – 1855) is one of the most famous English writers, whose most famous work remains Jane Eyre . Childhood trauma Daughter of Maria Branwell and Patrick Brontë, curate and author, Charlotte was born on April 21, 1816 in Thornton in the Yorkshire (Englan
Suzanne Lacore (1875 – 1975) was a French politician. She is one of the first three women to have been part of a French government, in 1936. Leader of the National Committee of Socialist Women Suzanne Lacore was born on May 30, 1875 in Corrèze, into a bourgeois family. After her studies at the tea
Vinayak Damodar Savarkar is also known as Veer Savarkar. He has become a wonderful personality of India. He was a well-read, learned and sage thinker. He had an undying love for Mother India. He was the mentor of the revolutionaries and the guide of the great personality like Subhash Chandra Bose. V
Among the Latin historians of antiquity, Tacitus is probably one of the most famous. However, his life is little known, apart from what he gave us of himself in his works and correspondence. Tacitus exercised relatively important functions in the Empire, until becoming a senator. He is thus in line
Marie-Madeleine Pioche of La Vergne , Comtesse de La Fayette (1634 – 1693), was a French woman of letters. She is notably the author of The Princess of Cleves. Marie-Madeleine Pioche de La Vergne was born into a family of the lower nobility, close to Cardinal Richelieu. When she was 15, her father
He joined the army at the age of 18 and served under Louis XV in several European courts as a diplomat , he will be locked up in the Bastille until the arrival of Louis XVI. Minister of Foreign Affairs to Louis XVI in 1792, he precipitated the declaration of war on Austria. Winner of the Prussians a