Dictionary of Indian Biography/Besant, Annie
BESANT, ANNIE (1847–)
Born Oct. 1, 1847: daughter of William Page Wood: educated privately in England, Germany and France: married Rev. Frank Besant, 1867, but legally separated from him, 1872: joined the National Secular Society, 1874: worked with Charles Bradlaugh M.P. in Labour and Socialist movements: co-editor of the National Reformer, member of the Fabian Society, and Social Democratic Federation: was a member of the London School Board, 1887–90: joined the Theosophical Society, 1880: and became a devoted pupil of Madame Blavatsky: founded the Central Hindu College at Benares, 1898: author of many books and pamphlets, including Karma, Four Great Religions, Dharma, Esoteric Christianity, The Religious Problem in India, etc: joint-editor of the Theosophical Review.