Amelia Edwards (1831-1892)

Wikipedia

Amelia Edwards, nicknamed ‘Godmother of Egyptology’, was born and grew up in Islington in the 1800s. At age 14, she was already a published author, writing her best early works in the borough. Edward’s parents set up an engagement for her which she soon broke off, preferring instead the company of women: she had several affairs with married women over her life. Forced to keep these relationships secret (homosexuality was illegal back then), Edwards travelled the world in her 20s and 30s, exploring Europe, and later journeying to Egypt where she became obsessed with preserving Ancient Egyptian artifacts.

Edwards was the co-founder of the Egypt Exploration Fund. She raised funds for the society by lecturing across England and writing about the fund’s work. In 1886, Smith College in Massachusetts awarded Amelia an honorary doctorate, the first ever given to a woman. Edwards was also the vice-president of the Society for the Promotion of Women’s Suffrage.

Edwards was a pioneer in more ways than one. It seems unlikely for Islington to be connected to the founding of Egyptology, but Edward’s blue plaque connects us with this part of history forever.