(1 October 1847 − 20 September 1933)
(1847–1933)
Bibliographical references include: “Theosophy and the Society of Jesus,” The Theosophist, Vol. XIV, December, 1892 (BCW 9:406).
Bibliographical references include: Why I became a Theosophist, July, 1889; 3rd ed. 1891 (BCW 11:568).
Endorsed Adyar’s collaboration on H. P. Blavatsky’s collected writings in 1930 and permitted use of the Society’s archival material. (B. de Zirkoff, BCW 4:xv)
According to C. Johnston, joined the Theosophical Society on 10 May 1889. Visited H. P. Blavatsky at Fontainebleau that summer. In August she arranged to vest her property at 19 Avenue Road in trustees as headquarters for the Society’s British Section. (B. de Zirkoff, BCW 11:xxiv-xxv)
Chaired a meeting of the Blavatsky Lodge in London for the first time on 21 November 1889 and was elected its president on 2 January 1890. With L. Cooper she was placed in charge of the Working Women’s Club opened with H. P. Blavatsky’s participation on 16 August 1890. (B. de Zirkoff, BCW 12:xxiii-xxv)
Sailed from Liverpool for the United States on 1 April 1891 carrying H. P. Blavatsky’s final letter to the American Convention. Addressed the Aryan Theosophical Society in New York on karma on 14 April, quoting Blavatsky’s answer concerning the universality of suffering. Became the principal editor of Lucifer after Blavatsky’s death. (B. de Zirkoff, BCW 13:xxiv-xxv, BCW 13:170, BCW 13:219)
Prepared the posthumous third volume of The Secret Doctrine (1897). Her preface states that she arranged the manuscripts into sections, corrected grammar and enclosed her additions in square brackets. B. de Zirkoff points to discrepancies between this preface and her interview with W. Mulliss on 6 October 1926 concerning the provenance of the manuscripts. (B. de Zirkoff, BCW 14:xxx-xxxii, BCW 14:xlii-xliv)
Some links:
- Works: Besant A. (works)
- Quotes: Zirkoff, Boris
- CTD article in Russian: Безант, Анни
- Theosophy Wiki: Annie Besant
- Wikipedia: Besant, Annie
- Other resources: The Theosophist, vol. 11, November (Supplement) 1889, p. xxvi, The Theosophist, vol. 11, November (Supplement) 1889, p. xxvi, The Theosophist, vol. 11, November (Supplement) 1889, p. xxvii, The Theosophist, vol. 11, November (Supplement) 1889, p. xxvii, The Theosophist, vol. 11, November (Supplement) 1889, p. xxviii-xxix, The Theosophist, vol. 11, November (Supplement) 1889, p. xxxii, The Theosophist, vol. 11, March (Supplement) 1890, p. cxiii
DATA
To show: Annie Besant; sortable: Besant, Annie
Person's short name: A. Besant; sortable: Besant, A.; for categories: Besant A.
Lifetime: 1847–1933
Shortly: British writer, lecturer and social reformer; second president of the Theosophical Society at Adyar,...