Annie Besant was a British writer, activist, philanthropist, and orator. An advocate of Irish and Indian self-rule, she dedicated much of her life to both causes, while also fighting for social change within the United Kingdom. After meeting Helena Blavatsky- the founder of the Theosophical Society-in 1890, Besant herself converted to Theosophy; later becoming president of the society in 1907. In 1917, her campaigns for democracy in India led to her election as president of the Indian National Congress, a position she held for one year. She continued to publicize her support for Indian independence and theosophism until her death in 1933.