*Ø* Blogmanac August 22, 1608 | Basua Makin, early feminist

Basua Makin, said to be one of the first Western feminists, born at Sussex, England. The following is the sum total of all that your almanackist has been able to discover about Ms Makin.

“One of the first Western feminists, Makin will learn Latin, Greek, French, Hebrew and Italian by age 9. After tutoring the daughters of King Charles the First, she will open a school for girls. At first Makin will apologize for teaching subjects ordinarily reserved for boys, insisting that a well-educated woman would better understand her ordained inferiority. As she grows older, however, Makin will drop the apologies and call for an inclusive academic program for girls. In 1675, Makin will publish the book Essay to Revive the Ancient Education of Gentlewomen In Religion, Manners, Arts, and Tongues – With an Answer to the Objections Against this Way of Education.” Source

Given the date of her birth, maybe she had something to do with Genoa (above).