ABSTRACT
Annie Wood was born in London on Friday, the 1st of October 1847. She was able afterwards to remember the Great Exhibition of 1851, though she did not actually visit it. Annie, however, did not live there for long at that time, being temporarily adopted by Miss Marryat to be educated by her special system. Early in 1866 Annie first met the Rev. Frank Besant, in whose company she spent much time during the following summer, at the end of which she found herself engaged to him. In the autumn Annie went to Switzerland with friends, and in the following autumn to Manchester with her mother. At first Annie Besant tried to earn her own living and that of her children by fancy needlework and by taking a post as a governess. In May 1874 Mrs Wood died and Annie Besant now felt free to follow her conscience wherever it might lead her.
