Anna Howard Shaw

@Leader of the Women's Suffrage Movement in the United States, Timeline and Childhood ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Anna Howard Shaw was a leader of the women's suffrage movement in the United States American Boston University Activists Political Activists Women's Rights Activists Physicians Aquarius Celebrities Anna Howard Shaw was an American physician and a leader of the women’s suffrage movement in the United States. A multifaceted personality, she was also one of the first ordained female Methodist ministers in her country. An independent minded intelligent woman, she strongly believed in gender equality and championed for the rights of women. Along with Susan B. Anthony, another noted feminist, she was one of the chief leaders of the National American Woman Suffrage Association. An emotionally mature and hardworking person from a young age, Shaw had risen from a difficult childhood to become a well-educated and self-confident woman. She began her career as a school teacher and later realized that her true interest lay in preaching. She followed her heart even though her family frowned upon her decision. Eventually she achieved ordination in the Methodist Protestant Church and became a successful preacher. Following this she pursued her education in medicine and became a physician. By this time she grew interested in the women’s suffrage movement which was gaining prominence in the U.S. and became an outspoken advocate of political rights for women. The cause of women’s suffrage was the one closest to her heart and she dedicated the rest of her life campaigning for this cause.

Personal Details

Birthday: February 14, 1847 Died on: July 2, 1919 Nationality: American Famous: Leader of the Women's Suffrage Movement in the United States, Boston University, Activists, Political Activists, Women's Rights Activists, Physicians Siblings: Eleanor Shaw, Henry Shaw, James Shaw, John Shaw, Mary Shaw, Thomas Shaw Universities: Boston University Boston University Albion College Boston University School of Theology Boston University School of Medicine Notable Alumnis: Boston University Information Detail Birthday February 14, 1847 Died on July 2, 1919 Nationality American Famous Leader of the Women's Suffrage Movement in the United States, Boston University, Activists, Political Activists, Women's Rights Activists, Physicians Siblings Eleanor Shaw, Henry Shaw, James Shaw, John Shaw, Mary Shaw, Thomas Shaw Universities Boston University Boston University Albion College Boston University School of Theology Boston University School of Medicine Notable Alumnis Boston University Birth Place Newcastle-on-Tyne, England Religion Methodist Gender Female Sun Sign Aquarius Born in Newcastle-on-Tyne, England Famous as Leader of the women's suffrage movement in the United States. Died at Age 72

Newcastle-on-Tyne, England

Anna Howard Shaw born at Unsplash Birth Place

She contracted pneumonia while on a speaking tour in 1919. She died of the disease on 2 July, 1919, at the age of 72 in Pennsylvania. Unsplash Personal Life

The 19th Amendment which granted women in the US the right to vote was ratified a few months after her death. However, she knew at the time of her death that the goal she was working towards had almost been reached. Unsplash Personal Life

She was born on 14 February 1847 in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, England. When she was four, her family immigrated to the United States and settled in Massachusetts. She had several siblings. Unsplash Childhood & Early Life

She had a very difficult childhood. Her father was mostly absent and her mother suffered a nervous breakdown, unable to take care of the children all alone. The illness of a brother added to their miseries. Unsplash Childhood & Early Life

She was a responsible and hard working girl who not only tended to the household chores, but also performed physically laborious works like digging wells and chopping firewood. Unsplash Childhood & Early Life

During the Civil War her elder brothers enlisted in the army, and it fell upon her to support the family financially. Thus she became a school teacher at the age of 15. Unsplash Childhood & Early Life

After the Civil War she decided to pursue higher education and moved to Michigan with her married sister. She attended high school and also took up the job of a seamstress. Unsplash Childhood & Early Life

During this time she also realized her interest in preaching which was inspired by Reverend Marianna Thompson who supported her pursuit of education. When she was 24, Dr. Peck invited her to give her first sermon which was successful. Unsplash Career

However, her passion to preach was met with disapproval from her friends and family. Yet she followed her heart and continued to preach. Unsplash Career

Her career as a preacher allowed her to save enough money for furthering her education and she entered Albion College, a Methodist school in Albion, Michigan in 1873 where she studied for two years. Unsplash Career

In 1876, she went on to study at Boston University's School of Theology. There she was the only woman in her class and thus often discriminated against. It was a difficult time for her, as she was struggling financially to support herself. Yet she persevered and completed her graduation in 1878. Unsplash Career

Upon her graduation she took over a congregation in East Dennis, Massachusetts. Again she faced sexism as the New England Conference and the General Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church refused to ordain her because she was a woman. Unsplash Career

Information	Detail
Birthday	February 14, 1847
Died on	July 2, 1919
Nationality	American
Famous	Leader of the Women's Suffrage Movement in the United States, Boston University, Activists, Political Activists, Women's Rights Activists, Physicians
Siblings	Eleanor Shaw, Henry Shaw, James Shaw, John Shaw, Mary Shaw, Thomas Shaw
Universities	Boston University Boston University Albion College Boston University School of Theology Boston University School of Medicine
Notable Alumnis	Boston University
Birth Place	Newcastle-on-Tyne, England
Religion	Methodist
Gender	Female
Sun Sign	Aquarius
Born in	Newcastle-on-Tyne, England
Famous as	Leader of the women's suffrage movement in the United States.
Died at Age	72

Anna Howard Shaw

American

Feb 14, 1847

Biography

Personal Details

Newcastle-on-Tyne, England