Isabella Bird FRGS, Hall Square, Boroughbridge, N Yorks, UK
Posted by: 
bill&ben
N 54° 05.733 W 001° 23.660
30U E 605005 N 5995344
A plaque denoting the birth place of the explorer Isabella Bird.
Waymark Code: WMVVH8
Location: Yorkshire, United Kingdom
Date Posted: 05/29/2017
Views: 2
The plaque reads
“Boroughbridge Hall
Isabella Bird (Mrs Bishop), explorer, missionary and author was born here, on 15th October 1831.”
Isabella Bird was born on 15th October 1831 to Rev Edward Bird and his wife Dora. She was a frail child that was educated at home. In order to improve her health doctors recommended that she undertake a sea voyage, this she did in 1854 when she sailed to America. This resulted in the publication of her first book, “An Englishwoman in America”. Further travels occurred in 1872 when she travelled to Australia, Hawaii, and Colorado. In Colorado she explored 800 miles on horseback, culminating in her book “A Lady’s Life in the Rocky Mountains”.
In 1881 she married Dr John Bishop. Their marriage was short. Dr Bishop died in 1886. Isabella Bishop studied medicine and decided to become a missionary. At the age of 60 she set sail for India. In India she founded the John Bishop Memorial Hospital in Srinagar. Further travels took her around the Middle East.
Her exploits led to her being a household name in Britain. In November 1892 she became the first woman fellow of the Royal Geographical Society, and in 1897 she was elected member of the Royal Photographic Society.
Her final journey took her up the Yangtze and Han rivers in China, To Korea, and to Morocco. Shortly after her return from Morocco she became ill and died on 7 October 1904.
Blue Plaque managing agency: Unknown
Individual Recognized: Isabella Bird FRGS
Physical Address:
Hall Square
Boroughbridge, N Yorks UK
Web Address: [Web Link]
|
Visit Instructions:
To log an entry for a "Blue Plaque," please try to include a picture of you next to the plaque!