Annie (Wood) Besant

Besant, Annie (Wood) (1847–1933), British theosophist and social reformer. Besant joined the Fabian Society and was an early advocate of birth control. She became international president of the Theosophical Society (1907–33) and championed independence for India, becoming president of the Indian National Congress (1917). She published many theosophical works.

See also: Fabian Society.