Annie Besant, a leading political activist and social justice campaigner in the 19th and 20th centuries, was born in Clapham, London, on 1 October 1847.
To celebrate the day of her birth, here areĀ four newspaper stories from that offer an insight into her character, political and social beliefs.
![Arrest of Annie Besant](http://fh1-fmp-wp01.dun.fh/wp-content/uploads/9/2013/09/Arrest-Besant.jpg)
Yorkshire Gazette | 15 October 1892
Dundee Evening Telegraph | 7 December 1897
![Annie Besant turns 80](http://fh1-fmp-wp01.dun.fh/wp-content/uploads/9/2013/09/Annie-Besant-80.jpg)