Annie Besant, who founded a Home Rule League in India in 1916 and became the first woman President of the Congress, was by birth and descent of which origin?

Annie Besant was born in London on 1 October 1847 to a family of Irish origin, and she always regarded herself as Irish; this is why many books describe her as belonging to Ireland.

Early life:

• Her maiden name was Annie Wood.
• She married Frank Besant, a clergyman, but they separated because of her growing doubts about Christianity.
• She became a leading figure in Britain as a freethinker, a socialist, a member of the Fabian Society, and a campaigner for women's rights and workers' rights.
• She led the strike of the "match girls" of London (1888).

Theosophy and India:

• She joined the Theosophical Society in 1889, influenced by the writings of Madame Blavatsky.
• She came to India in 1893 and made it her home.
• She became the President of the Theosophical Society in 1907, and remained in that post until her death.
• She founded the Central Hindu College at Banaras (1898), which later became the nucleus of the Banaras Hindu University (1916).

Role in the national movement:

• She founded the All India Home Rule League in September 1916; Tilak had set up his own league in April 1916.
• She started the newspapers "New India" (a daily) and "Commonweal" (a weekly).
• She was interned by the Madras government in June 1917, which caused widespread protests; she was released in September 1917.
• She was elected President of the Calcutta session of the Indian National Congress in December 1917, the first woman to hold this office.
• Later, she differed from Gandhi over non-cooperation, and her influence declined.
• She supported the Commonwealth of India Bill (1925), a draft constitution for India.
• She died on 20 September 1933, in Madras Presidency.

Why not the other options?

• ✗She was not of American, French or German origin.