Contents
Isabella Bird
Writing vivid accounts of journeys through the Rocky Mountains, Japan and other regions.
A Lady’s Life in the Rocky Mountains · Unbeaten Tracks in Japan
- Born
- 15 October 1831
- Birthplace
- Boroughbridge, England, United Kingdom
- Died
- 8 October 1904
More people
Isabella Bird
British traveller, writer and photographer whose books made distant places accessible to Victorian readers.
Early life
Clergyman’s daughter
Grew up in a religious household and was educated at home.
Poor health
Experienced recurring illness, with travel becoming a major part of her life.
Career
- 1850s–1860s
First travels
Visited North America and began publishing accounts of her experiences.
- 1870s–1880s
Long-distance journeys
Travelled through Hawaii, the Rocky Mountains, Japan and Asia.
- 1890s–1904
Photography and further travel
Developed photographic work and continued journeys in Asia and North Africa.
Journeys & writings
A Lady’s Life in the Rocky Mountains
Letters describing travel and daily life in the American West.
Unbeaten Tracks in Japan
An account of travel beyond the routes usually taken by foreigners.
Journeys in Persia and Kurdistan
Observations from an extensive regional journey.
Beyond work
Medical philanthropy
Supported hospitals and medical missions in Asia.
Marriage
Married physician John Bishop in 1881 and was widowed five years later.
Sources & photo credit
Biography and references ↗Biography and contributions ↗Photo: Portrait engraving; artist not identified. Public domain · Original image. Cropped and displayed in monochrome.
