 
|
|
"Adventure is worthwhile in itself."--Amelia Earhart "I want to do it because I want to do it. Women must try to do things as men have tried. When they fail, their failure must be a challenge to others."--Amelia Earhart |
By D.A. Watson
If you think you need to be young, healthy and wealthy to be an explorer - think again! Isabella Bird, often described as "short and dumpy," was over 60 when she had some of her most dramatic adventures, suffered from ill health throughout much of her life, and was a woman of only modest means. And yet, she is widely recognized as one of the great explorers of the Victorian era.
Isabella published ten books about her travels, numerous articles, and two books of photographs. She was the first woman to travel up the Yangtze River, and her written accounts of the assassination of the Korean Queen and Japan’s invasion of Korea were considered major news stories. She was the first women ever to be appointed in the Royal Geographical Society in London, and the first woman ever to address a meeting of that Society. Quite a list of accomplishments!
Born in Boroughbridge, Yorkshire, England on October 15, 1831, Isabella Lucy Bird was the eldest daughter of Edward Bird, a clergyman, and Dora Lawson Bird. She and her sister Henrietta (often referred to as Hennie) were schooled at home by their mother. The family was fairly prosperous, with a tradition of community service. Edward Bird had been a lawyer and judge in India, but had quit that career to become an evangelical minister for the Church of England. Dora Lawson Bird was a clergyman’s daughter. One of Isabella’s great-grandfathers, Sir George Merttins, had been Lord Mayor of London. There was a strong religious influence in the Bird family – two relatives became Bishops in the Church of England, and one of Edward’s sisters became a missionary.
Sickly throughout her younger years, Isabella’s physician prescribed "a change of scenery" and "as much time spent outside as possible" as a cure for her ills. Her father began taking her with him as he made his parish rounds in their home village of Tattenhall, in northern England. Isabella became an excellent horsewoman, and learned to be observant of everything around her. Every summer, the Birds traveled to the home of Edward’s father, Robert Bird, in Taplow Hill, where there were games and horseback riding, and the family would gather around to hear the letters from family members in India, America, and Africa.
Run-ins with the congregation over his strict interpretation of the Scriptures caused Edward Bird to lose his parish in Tattenhall when Isabella was eleven, and the family had to relocate to a new parish in Birmingham. Isabella served as a Sunday School teacher, even though she was barely older than some of her students. Eventually, Edward ran into problems with his new congregation as well, and the family was forced to move yet again. Eventually, when Isabella was sixteen, the family settled in Wyton, near Cambridge.
At the age of 18, Isabella was diagnosed with a fibrous tumor on her spine. Surgery was performed, quite risky in those days, and the tumor was successfully removed. Her physician recommended “mountain air” as a way to speed her recovery, and so the Bird family traveled to the Scottish Highlands. Here, Isabella experienced a wonderful healing effect as she walked through the hills and on the shore. Her first travel writing was done as a result of this trip. She went on write, usually published anonymously, for such publications as “The Family Treasury,” “Good Words,” and “The Sunday Magazine.”
Upon her return home to Wyton, however, Isabella once again became ill with backaches and headaches. Turning to her tried-and-true cure of travel, she decided to undertake a long sea voyage. Her father gave her an allowance of 100 pounds and told her she could be gone for as long as the funds held out. In June of 1854, Isabella, aged 22, left Liverpool bound for Halifax, Nova Scotia, to visit cousins.
After a while Isabella became restless, and left her cousins’ farm on Prince Edward Island. She traveled to Maine, Ohio, Illinois, Michigan, Quebec, New York, and Massachusetts. In New York, Isabella was invited to receptions at the home of Mrs. Dubois, a leader in the artistic community, where she met Washington Irving and other historic figures. From New York she traveled to Cambridge, Massachusetts, where she was fortunate enough to meet with the poet Longfellow.
Isabella had traveled some 6,000 miles on this first journey of hers. Upon returning to Wyton, she wrote about this trip in a book entitled "An Englishwoman in America", which was published in 1856. The book was well-received in England, Canada, and America, and Isabella earned quite a bit of money from the publication. She spent this money on charitable work – buying boats for needy Scottish fishermen.
In 1857, Isabella returned to the United States to study the religious revival taking place at the time, and to gather information for a book her father planned to write on evangelism in America. On this trip she visited New York, Philadelphia, Washington D.C., and the Hudson’s Bay Territory. She also sailed the Great Lakes and the Mississippi River, and visited Virginia, South Carolina, and Georgia.
Only days after Isabella’s return home to England in April 1858, Edward Bird fell seriously ill. He died on May 14, 1858. Isabella, Hennie and their mother had to leave the parish house in Wyton, and eventually settled in Edinburgh, Scotland, where they lived together until 1866 when Dora Bird died.
During her time in Edinburgh, Isabella worked at writing articles regarding religious and social issues, and joined her sister Hennie in charity work. Isabella was quite concerned with helping the poor, and worked extensively with programs helping people to emigrate to Canada and Australia.
After several years, Isabella was once again suffering tremendously from ill health. She was experiencing severe back pain and headaches, and was wearing a steel back/neck brace. The doctors suggested yet again that Isabella take a sea voyage. Allowing herself to take their advice, she decided that she would take another year-long trip. This time she decided to travel to Australia and New Zealand, then to California, and then cross-country through America.
In early 1872, Isabella and Hennie chose to take their small inheritance and move to Tobermary, Scotland, on the island of Mull. From there, Isabella traveled to Liverpool and departed in July 1872 for her next great adventure.
NEXT: Isabella’s travels to Australia, New Zealand, & the Sandwich Islands
|
|
 |
| Women Who Dared II |
 A beautiful and inspirational poster with pictures and short vignettes of "women who dared." |
|
| American Experience: Around the World in 72 Days (1997) |
 PBS Home Video. Many called her "the best reporter in America," and Nellie Bly truly achieved amazing successes. She got herself committed to an institution to expose abuses of the mentally ill and actually did travel around the world in 72 days. Discover the woman behind these and many other astonishing feats -- a serious yet spunky celebrity who mastered life through her cunning and wit. |
|
| The Hawaiian Archipelago |
 By Isabella Bird. Six Months Among the Palm Groves, Coral Reefs and Volcanoes of the Sandwich Islands. |
|
| Women of Discovery |
 A Celebration of Intrepid Women Who Explored the World by Milbry Polk, Mary Tiegreen. Across the centuries and from many lands, women have set forth on journeys of exploration. Visionaries, adventurers, artists, and scientists, these women challenged the limitations, both physical and social, of their times and, in the face of formidable challenges, expanded the world's body of knowledge. Yet despite their extraordinary achievements, they have remained unknown and unsung for too long. |
|
| Amelia Earhart : A Biography |
 By Doris L. Rich. "Rich's portrait reveals a determined, independent woman, brave enough "to go where no one had gone and to do what no one had done" . . . [and] illuminates the public and private life of a legendary flier, bringing her back to earth as a courageous woman who dreamed and dared all." (Christian Science Monitor) |