Isabella L. (Isabella Lucy) Bird

Born in Yorkshire in 1831, Isabella Bird became one of the best-known travel writers of the 19th century. Long troubled by poor health, she found that travel suited her better than staying still, and over time she built a remarkable life out of movement, observation, and writing.

She is especially remembered for books drawn from her journeys, including A Lady's Life in the Rocky Mountains, Unbeaten Tracks in Japan, and later works on Asia and the Middle East. She traveled widely and often under demanding conditions, earning a reputation for toughness as well as curiosity.

Later in life she married the physician John Bishop, and after his death she continued traveling and writing. She was also recognized by the Royal Geographical Society, becoming one of the first women admitted as a fellow, and she died in 1904.