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You are here: UK History > Women's History > British women who changed history
From Celtic Queens to nurses on the frontlines, there are a host of British women that have achieved amazing things and made Britain and the world, what it is today.
The history of the monarchy has largely been dominated by men but many of the best known monarchs have been female and several of the most influential reigns have actually had queens or queen regents at the helm.
England and Scotland, and later, the United Kingdom, have had eight official reigning queens since the medieval era. In Scotland, the first reigning Queen of Scots was known as Margaret the Maid of Norway, however, her reign was brief and was more of an interim rule between kings, she didn’t even manage to make it to Scotland to take her throne. Next up, Mary Queen of Scots is one of the most...Read More
From Celtic Queens to nurses on the frontlines, there are a host of British women that have achieved amazing things and made Britain and the world, what it is today.
The history of the monarchy has largely been dominated by men but many of the best known monarchs have been female and several of the most influential reigns have actually had queens or queen regents at the helm.
England and Scotland, and later, the United Kingdom, have had eight official reigning queens since the medieval era. In Scotland, the first reigning Queen of Scots was known as Margaret the Maid of Norway, however, her reign was brief and was more of an interim rule between kings, she didn’t even manage to make it to Scotland to take her throne. Next up, Mary Queen of Scots is one of the most famous monarchs in the British Isles, particularly because of her relationship with her cousin, Elizabeth I who was queen of England.
In England, we had female Celtic leaders and the Empress Matilda, who was declared the rightful heir of the throne but was engaged in a civil war with her cousin Stephen. Who the first real queen of England was is up for some debate, some count Lady Jane Grey who was queen for nine days while others skip her, going straight to Queen Mary I.
Some of the female monarchs that changed the course of history include:
Boudicca
She was the queen of the Iceni Tribe in Celtic Britain who led an army against the Romans. She was publicly flogged, witness the rapes of her daughters and still didn’t give up her land to the invaders. Her army destroyed Roman strongholds in Colchester, London and St Albans, her fate remains unknown.
Aethelflaed
As the oldest daughter of Alfred the Great, Aethelflaed was part of the ruling family of the Anglo Saxon kingdom of Wessex. She helped lead the fight against Viking invaders and lay the foundations for modern day England. She would go on to become the Lady of Mercia, governing the kingdom of Mercia after the death of her husband.
Anne Boleyn and Catherine Parr
The second of Henry VIII’s wives and the first to be beheaded, Anne Boleyn is often painted as a villain by historians but she was a key player in the English Reformation and the mother of one of Britain’s best loved monarchs, Elizabeth I. Henry VIII’s final wife, Catherine Parr was another hugely influential queen. Not only was she one of the first widely published female writers but it is thanks to her that Elizabeth I ever took the throne at all, it was Parr who pushed for her to be educated and influenced the Third Succession Act, which allowed Mary I and Elizabeth I to be included in the line of accession.
Elizabeth I
Known as the Virgin Queen, Elizabeth I remains one of the most popular rulers Britain has ever had. She was the last monarch of the House of Tudor, reigning for 44 years and famed for defeating the Spanish Armada and creating a golden age in arts and exploration.
Victoria
Queen Victoria’s reign lasted longer than any of her predecessors and has only just been pipped by her great-great-granddaughter. Victoria came to the throne at the age of 18 and oversaw the industrial transformation of the UK, with the expansion of the British Empire and the industrial revolution. She also became the grandmother of Europe, with her children joining Europe’s other ruling families.
Elizabeth II
So far, Queen Elizabeth II has been Britain’s longest reigning monarch and longest living monarch. She has witnessed huge advances in technology, society and major political changes.
The Suffragists and Suffragettes
The only reason women over the age of 18 have the vote today is because of the efforts of the suffragists and suffragettes who campaigned for women’s suffrage.
Millicent Fawcett was the leader of the suffragist movement, a peaceful campaign, while Emmeline Pankhurst founded the suffragettes. Other notable female activities include Emily Davidson and Mary Wollstonecraft.
Constance Markievicz and Viscountess Nancy Astor
In 1918, Constance Markievicz was the first woman to be elected, however she didn’t take her seat in protest. A year later, Viscountess Nancy Astor was elected and became the first one to actually take her seat in the House of Commons.
Margaret Thatcher, Theresa May and Liz Truss
Britain has had three female Prime Ministers. The first in 1979 was Margaret Thatcher who remains known as the Iron Lady and was one of the longest serving PMs of the 20th century. Theresa May was the second female Prime Minister and is the prime minister known for actually taking the UK out of the European Union. Liz Truss was the third and only lasted 45 days in office.
Nicola Sturgeon
Nicola Sturgeon is the first woman to hold the position of First Minister of Scotland and Leader of the Scottish National Party. She held the position from 2014 until 2023.
Mary Anning
Fossil collector Mary Anning lived in Dorset and recovered a huge amount of fossils which changed the way we view the Jurassic Period. She was unable to join the Geological Society of London because of her gender.
Ada Lovelace
The daughter of Lord Byron, Ada Lovelace went on to become the world’s first computer programmer. She worked with Charles Babbage and his Analytical Engine and her algorithms continue to form the basis of programs to this day.
Florence Nightingale
Known as the founder of modern nursing, Nightingale improved the conditions of military hospitals during the Crimean War and then set up her own nursing school, the first secular nursing school in the world, which in turn made nursing a profession and changed the face of healthcare.
Mary Seacole
As a mixed race woman, Mary Seacole had more difficulties than most during her time. She was rejected by the War Office to be a nurse, so founded her own way there and established her own ‘hotel’ where she looked after sick officers.
Roslind Franklin
A talented scientist who sadly died young, Roslind conducted groundbreaking work on DNA and discovered the double helix, winning the Nobel Prize.
Agatha Christie
Known as the Queen of Crime, Agatha Christie is the best selling novelist of all time. She has sold around 2 billion copies as well as being the most translated author of all time. Her play, Mousetrap is also the longest running play in history.
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