Besant, Annie 1847-1933. British socialist
and feminist activist. Separated from her
clerical husband in 1873 because of her
freethinking views, she was associated with
the radical atheist Charles Bradlaugh and the
socialist Fabian Society. She and Bradlaugh
published a treatise advocating birth control
and were prosecuted; as a result she lost
custody of her daughter. In 1889 she became a
disciple of Madame Blavatsky. She thereafter
preached theosophy and went to India. As a
supporter of Indian independence, she founded
the Central Hindu College 1898 and the Indian
Home Rule League 1916, and became president
of the Indian National Congress in 1917.